Joy L. Hart

Workplace Surveillance and Managing Privacy Boundaries

According to communication privacy management (CPM) theory, people manage the boundaries around information that they seek to keep private. How does this theory apply when employees are monitored electronically? Using data from 154 face-to-face interviews with employees from a range of organizations, the authors identified various ways organizations, employees, and coworkers describe electronic surveillance and the privacy expectations, boundaries, and turbulence that arise. Privacy boundaries are established during new-employee orientation when surveillance is described as coercive control, as benefiting the company, and/or as benefiting employees. Correlations exist between the surveillance-related socialization messages interviewees remember receiving and their attitudes. Although little boundary turbulence appeared, employees articulated boundaries that companies should not cross. The authors conclude that CPM theory suppositions need modification to fit the conditions of electronic surveillance.

Smoking Identities and Behavior: Evidence of Discrepancies, Issues for Measurement and Intervention

Although researchers and health care practitioners tend to use standard categories to classify smokers and nonsmokers, recent research suggests that individual smokers may use a variety of self-definitions regarding their smoking behavior. The purpose of this study was to examine smoking identity and smoking behavior among college students, specifically, the relationship between self-identifying as a smoker, nonsmoker, occasional smoker, or social smoker and number of days smoked in the past month. Data were obtained during a campuswide health assessment of randomly selected full-time students (N = 741). Results indicate discrepancy between smoking identity and cigarette use. Twenty percent of students who smoked in the past 30 days self-identified as nonsmokers. Such discrepancies have implications for data collection in research as well as on questionnaires and in health care interviews. Failure to understand actual smoking behavior may increase the risk that individuals will not receive effective smoking prevention and cessation interventions.

The saga of the Crown Pilot: framing, reframing, and reconsideration

Abstract In 1996, Nabisco discontinued production of its longest running product, the Crown Pilot cracker. This move prompted public protest and subsequently garnered widespread media attention. Based on the sustained news coverage and a barrage of telephone calls, e-mails, and letters, Nabisco eventually relented and resumed production of the Crown Pilot. This case study focuses upon the “frames” used in the media coverage to help audiences interpret news stories about the Crown Pilot situation. The research attempts to explain how the public relations efforts of both the protesters and Nabisco influenced the framing. Because framing choices are among the most critical strategic decisions in the public relations process, the study has ramifications for public relations researchers interested in the concept and practitioners concerned with publicizing a variety of issues.

Vape Shop Employees: Public Health Advocates?

INTRODUCTION E-cigarettes have increased in popularity and given rise to a new type of sales outlet—the vape shop. Expanding on work examining vape shop employee e-cigarette and tobacco attitudes and behaviors1, this study examined key messages that vape shop employees communicate to customers. METHODS Using informal interviews, observations, and a cross-sectional survey, we examined vape shop employees’ (n=16) perceptions and e-cigarette use. Data were collected in nine vape shops in Louisville, Kentucky. We used open coding to analyze the qualitative interviews, observation notes, and open-ended survey responses. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze survey data. RESULTS The findings revealed that nearly all employees were former smokers (93.8%), who now only use e-cigarettes. Over one-third of the employees (37.5%) began using e-cigarettes as a replacement for traditional cigarettes, and 93.8% reported better health (e.g., easier breathing, less coughing) since starting to use e-cigarettes. Although most employees believed e-cigarettes should be regulated, 56.3% thought regulations should be different from those governing traditional cigarettes. Analysis of qualitative data revealed that employees see themselves as health advocates who: 1) provide instructions on vaping and promote a vape community, 2) encourage cessation of traditional cigarettes, and 3) support some regulations. CONCLUSIONS The findings reveal that vape shop employees regard e-cigarettes as viable smoking cessation tools and relish their role in assisting others in taking what employees view as positive health actions. Future research addressing communication between vape shop employees and customers, especially related to smoking cessation and health, is needed.

Clean, Cheap, Convenient: Promotion of Electronic Cigarettes on YouTube

INTRODUCTION Videos promoting electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) can be easily accessed on YouTube. Marketing claims present in YouTube videos may help shape the public’s opinion of e-cigarettes. Thus, it is important to understand the most frequent marketing claims and video sources. METHODS The objectives of this study were to 1) identify marketing claims in YouTube videos that are commonly made on e-cigarette retail websites and 2) compare the frequency of marketing claims in user-generated and professional YouTube videos. Through content analysis, this study evaluated six marketing claims and descriptive information about YouTube videos (n = 50) related to “electronic cigarettes” and “vape”. RESULTS Overall, the most frequent marketing claim promoted e-cigarette use as better than traditional tobacco use (52%). Approximately 65% of videos appeared to be user-generated and 35% were professionally-produced. Compared to user-generated videos, significantly more professional videos made claims that e-cigarettes are cleaner (p < 0.001) and cheaper (p = 0.04) than traditional cigarettes. Additionally, more professional videos had claims promoting e-cigarettes as better than traditional cigarettes because of their convenience—the user can smoke anywhere (p < 0.0001) and the products do not produce secondhand smoke (p < 0.001). The most frequent claim in user-generated videos was related to recreation (53%). CONCLUSIONS Videos on YouTube promote e-cigarettes as safer than other tobacco products. Videos appearing to be user-generated contained different marketing claims compared to professional videos. Further research is necessary to assess how the perceived source of the video impacts the ways these marketing claims shape public perception and influence use.

Undressing "health fashion": an examination of health-cause clothing and accessories.

Today, fashion items such as rubber wristbands in various colors, pink ribbons, and red dresses represent different health-related causes and can be seen frequently across demographic groups. Complete with pithy slogans (e.g., “Go Red for Women”), these items are part of a larger “health fashion” trend—one that involves wearing, using, and displaying health-cause clothing and accessories. In this article, the authors explore recent interest in “health fashion,” examining in particular its origins, effectiveness, and implications.

A picture is worth a thousand words: Electronic cigarette content on Instagram and Pinterest

INTRODUCTION This study examined electronic cigarette (e-cig) content in visual materials posted on the social-media platforms Instagram and Pinterest. Both platforms allow users to upload pictures to the internet and share them globally. Users can search for pictures tagged with specific keywords and phrases. METHODS Using content analysis, this study identified themes in image postings of e-cigs on social media. During five weeks of data collection, keywords were used to identify pictures related to e-cigs. These pictures were then coded into one or more categories. RESULTS The three most popular categories for Instagram posts were marketing, customization and juices/flavors. The three most popular categories for Pinterest posts were customization, marketing and memes. CONCLUSIONS Because of the persuasive power of visuals, it is important to examine communication on Instagram and Pinterest as well as the specific visual messages communicated. Stores and manufacturers use these and similar platforms to communicate with users and potential users; thus it seems that marketers are capitalizing on opportunities for persuasive appeal. The results highlight the popularity of e-cig content on these two social media platforms and reveal an emphasis on marketing and customization.

Generally Recognized as Safe: Uncertainty Surrounding E-Cigarette Flavoring Safety

Despite scientific uncertainty regarding the relative safety of inhaling e-cigarette aerosol and flavorings, some consumers regard the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) designation as evidence of flavoring safety. In this study, we assessed how college students’ perceptions of e-cigarette flavoring safety are related to understanding of the GRAS designation. During spring 2017, an online questionnaire was administered to college students. Chi-square p-values and multivariable logistic regression were employed to compare perceptions among participants considering e-cigarette flavorings as safe and those considering e-cigarette flavorings to be unsafe. The total sample size was 567 participants. Only 22% knew that GRAS designation meant that a product is safe to ingest, not inhale, inject, or use topically. Of participants who considered flavorings to be GRAS, the majority recognized that the designation meant a product is safe to ingest but also considered it safe to inhale. Although scientific uncertainty on the overall safety of flavorings in e-cigarettes remains, health messaging can educate the public about the GRAS designation and its irrelevance to e-cigarette safety.

Communication Ethics and My Sister's Keeper

Objectives: To identify ethical dilemmas in communication presented in My Sisters Keeper, a novel by Jodi Picoult. To examine how ones position/perspective shapes how one interprets and evaluates situations. To analyze ethical decision making. Relevant Courses: We have developed this activity for use in Communication Ethics; however, it could be employed in several courses like family, health, and interpersonal communication

Responses to cigarette health warning labels, harm perceptions and knowledge in a national sample of pregnant and non-pregnant women of reproductive age

INTRODUCTION Little is known about the effectiveness of cigarette health warning labels (HWLs) among U.S. pregnant and non-pregnant women of reproductive age. Our intent was to examine HWL responses by pregnancy status and their associations with knowledge and perceived harm. METHODS We conducted cross-sectional analyses of first (2013-2014) and second (2014-2015) Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health waves. The sample (N = 19,095) was representative of U.S. women of reproductive age (18-45 years). We examined three HWL responses (seeing HWLs, forgoing cigarettes because of HWLs, likely-to-quit because of HWLs), perceived harm from smoking, and knowledge of health effects to fetuses and others. Weighted logistic regression compared HWL responses by pregnancy status and their associations with perceived harm and knowledge, adjusting for demographics and tobacco use. Results were presented as marginal predicted probabilities. RESULTS Pregnant smokers were less likely than never-pregnant smokers to report likelihood of quitting (57% vs 67%, p = 0.020). Forgoing cigarettes and likely-to-quit due to HWLs-but not seeing HWLs-were positively associated with perceived harm and knowledge. Pregnant smokers were less likely to have knowledge of fetal harm (83%) than ever-pregnant (91%, p = 0.006) and never-pregnant (92%, p = 0.003) smokers. However, pregnant smokers who reported likelihood of quitting were much more likely to have knowledge of fetal harm than those who did not (93% vs. 67%, p = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS Implementation of HWLs that elicit stronger reactions-such as pictorial HWLs-and increase knowledge of fetal risks is one action to help reduce tobacco use in pregnant and non-pregnant U.S. women of reproductive age.