Influencing e-cigarette policy: A narrative review of public health advocacy

To identify and synthesise published literature on public health advocacy relating to influencing e-cigarette public policy outcomes and report the public health advocacy strategies and tactics employed by advocates and assess the effectiveness of these approaches in achieving the advocates’ intended policy outcomes. A narrative review was undertaken of peer-reviewed journal articles that addressed public health advocacy relating to e-cigarettes. Several key themes emerged, which are as follows: (i) few studies have examined the effectiveness of e-cigarette public health advocacy strategies, (ii) a wide range of tactics is being used but tactic effectiveness has not been evaluated and (iii) diverse public health actors have engaged in e-cigarette advocacy, leading to differing views on regulation. The identified scarcity of research on effective public health advocacy for e-cigarettes appears to be a missed opportunity to share experiences and vital learnings. The findings highlight the need for greater evidence on effective public health advocacy strategies and tactics. Further research insights could strengthen the impact of e-cigarette advocacy among public health researchers, organisations, and practitioners that engage with this important public health issue.