Table 1 Frequency of frames

Health impacts of electronic cigarettes

Benefits of e-cigarettes

28

62.22%

Smoking cessation tool

8

-

Reduction in smoking-related diseases

8

-

Safer as compared to smoking

24

-

Not linked to chronic illnesses

3

-

Drawbacks of e-cigarettes

17

37.78%

Not an effective smoking cessation tool

4

-

E-cigarettes are a gateway to smoking

2

-

E-cigarettes are harmful

9

-

E-cigarettes are addictive

8

-

Second hand aerosols are harmful

2

-

Potentially harmful

4

-

Youths and children taking up e-cigarettes

7

-

Story tone typically used

Neutral

8

21.05%

In favor of e-cigarettes

19

50%

In opposition to e-cigarettes

11

28.95%

Main topic

Policy issue

13

34.2%

Products taxation

8

-

Product regulation

21

-

Product ban

11

-

Health issue

22

58%

Youth vaping

3

7.8%

News source

Government officials/ lawmakers

8

9.09%

Public Health Agencies

19

21.59%

Anti-vaping advocates and CSOs

4

4.55%

Vaping advocates and CSOs

11

12.50%

Average citizen/consumer

3

3.41%

Industry – retailers and manufacturers

14

15.91%

Health experts – doctors/ nurses

12

13.64%

Academia

11

12.50%

Journals on health

6

6.82%