Hidden flaws in e-cigarette industry-funded studies

Authors

Eric K. Soule, Department of Health Education and Promotion, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA soulee18@ecu.edu.
Matthew E. Rossheim, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA.
Melvin D. Livingston, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Cassidy R. LoParco, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Kayla K. Tillett, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA.
Thomas Eissenberg, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA.
Steve Sussman, Departments of Preventive Medicine and Psychology, and School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Pasadena, California, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

5-15-2025

Journal

Tobacco control

Volume

34

Issue

3

DOI

10.1136/tc-2024-058609

Keywords

cessation; electronic nicotine delivery devices; nicotine; tobacco industry

Abstract

Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use has increased since e-cigarettes were introduced to the market nearly 20 years ago. Researchers continue to conduct studies to understand the health risks and benefits of e-cigarettes to inform health education and promotion efforts as well as public policy. Studies funded by the tobacco industry examining the potential risks and benefits of e-cigarettes have also been conducted and are sometimes published in the scientific literature. Frequently, tobacco and e-cigarette industry-funded researchers report findings that contradict research funded by other sources. While many industry-funded studies may appear methodologically sound at first glance, in some cases, industry-funded studies include methodological flaws that result in misleading conclusions. The tobacco industry's use of biased research to influence tobacco-related policy decisions in the past is well-documented. This commentary provides specific examples of recent e-cigarette research funded by the tobacco/e-cigarette industry in which methodological flaws result in misleading conclusions that support industry goals. Given the long history of biased research conducted by the tobacco industry, there is a need to assess whether research funded by the e-cigarette industry similarly contains methodological flaws. We emphasise the need for tobacco and e-cigarette-funded research to be scrutinised by non-industry-funded subject matter experts and call for journals to not consider manuscripts that have received support from the tobacco or e-cigarette industry.

APA Citation

Soule, Eric K.; Rossheim, Matthew E.; Livingston, Melvin D.; LoParco, Cassidy R.; Tillett, Kayla K.; Eissenberg, Thomas; and Sussman, Steve, "Hidden flaws in e-cigarette industry-funded studies" (2025). GW Authored Works. Paper 7258.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/7258

Department

Prevention and Community Health