Gang Meng
Biographic Data
| ID | 5246366 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Gang Meng |
| GIVEN NAMES | Gang |
| FAMILY NAME | Meng |
| SIGNATURE | MENG G |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Waterloo |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-7771-7881 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 25 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 8 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 25 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2006 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Knowledge and Concerns About Smoking‐Related Health Risks
Examining the impact of England’s menthol cigarette ban on postban smoking cessation
While quit success was higher among participants who smoked menthol, small sample sizes and wide CIs limited the ability to detect associations. Continued menthol use and widespread accessory use suggest regulatory loopholes may be undermining the ban's effectiveness
Use of nicotine pouches among adults who currently or formerly smoked cigarettes and/or vaped nicotine
We found a significant increase in NP ever-use and current use between 2022 and 2024 among adults with established nicotine product use, consistent with national sales trends. Further research is needed to determine whether adults are using NPs as a tool to quit smoking or sustain abstinence after quitting
Impacts of revised smoke-free regulations under the 2020 Japan Health Promotion Act on cigarette smoking and heated tobacco product use in indoor public places and homes
The implementation of the HPA was limited in its effectiveness. Comprehensive regulations with no exemptions are needed in Japan
Reasons for using e-cigarettes among adults who smoke
E-cigarette use for curiosity and pleasure predominated among adults who smoked. The reasons for dual use in adults have shifted from goal-oriented to non-goal-oriented
Differences in Smoking Cessation Behaviors and Vaping Status among Adult Daily Smokers with and Without Depression, Anxiety, and Alcohol Use
This study examined differences in quit attempts, 1-month quit success, and vaping status at follow-up among a cohort of 3709 daily smokers with and without depression, anxiety, and regular alcohol use who participated in both the 2018 and 2020 International Tobacco Control Four Country Smoking and Vaping (ITC 4CV) Surveys. At baseline, a survey with validated screening tools was used to classify respondents as having no, or one or more of the fo…
Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) flavours and devices used by adults before and after the 2020 US FDA ENDS enforcement priority
Between 2018 and the early phase of the FDA's 2020 enforcement priority, prevalence of menthol/mint and fruit/other-flavoured cartridges increased among adults. Half of vapers using cartridge flavours covered in the enforcement switched to other flavours and/or devices that were exempt, with the exception of disposables. The extent to which more comprehensive restrictions may be problematic for adults who prefer a range of ENDS flavours remains u…
Impact of Canada’s menthol cigarette ban on quitting among menthol smokers
This pooled analysis of Canada's menthol cigarette ban provides the foundation for estimating the impact of menthol bans in the USA and other countries. Projections suggest that a US menthol cigarette ban would have a substantial impact on increasing quitting
Prevalence, perceptions and factors associated with menthol cigarette smoking
Menthols are highly prevalent among females in both countries. There is a need in African countries to combat the myth that menthols are less harmful and to ban menthol and other flavourings
Evaluating the impact of menthol cigarette bans on cessation and smoking behaviours in Canada
Although menthol smokers were most likely to switch to non-menthol cigarettes, the menthol ban was also significantly associated with higher rates of quit attempts and quit success among menthol smokers compared with non-menthol smokers, and may have helped to prevent relapse among menthol smokers who had quit smoking before the ban. Results confirm and extend evaluation of Ontario's menthol ban across provinces covering 83% of the Canadian popul…
Quasi-experimental evaluation of Kenya’s pictorial health warnings versus Zambia’s single text-only warning
The introduction of PHWs in Kenya substantially increased the effectiveness of warnings. These results provide strong empirical support for 34 African countries that still have text-only warnings, of which 31 are Parties of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and are thus obligated to implement PHWs
Prosocial Behavior Can Moderate the Relationship Between Rumination and Mindfulness
Encouraging prosocial behavior is an effective way to improve mindfulness in highly ruminative individuals
Awareness of Marketing of Heated Tobacco Products and Cigarettes and Support for Tobacco Marketing Restrictions in Japan
Japan is one of the world's largest cigarette markets and the top heated tobacco product (HTP) market. No forms of tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship (TAPS) are banned under national law, although the industry has some voluntary TAPS restrictions. This study examines Japanese tobacco users' self-reported exposure to cigarette and HTP marketing through eight channels, as well as their support for TAPS bans. Data are from the 2018 ITC …
Reasons for Regularly Using Heated Tobacco Products among Adult Current and Former Smokers in Japan
The market growth of heated tobacco products (HTPs), such as IQOS, Ploom TECH, and glo, has increased dramatically in Japan since 2016. Little is known about the reasons why current and former smokers are using HTPs. The data for this cross-sectional study were from the 2018 (Wave 1) International Tobacco Control (ITC) Japan Survey, a national web-based survey of 4500 people, including 658 current HTP users, of whom 549 were concurrently smoking …
Secondhand Smoke Exposure in Public Places and Support for Smoke-Free Laws in Japan
Comprehensive smoke-free policies such as those called for by the WHO FCTC are the only way to protect the public effectively from the harms of secondhand smoke (SHS), yet Japan has been slow to implement this important health measure. This study examines baseline levels of smoking and SHS exposure in public places and support for smoking bans in Japan prior to the implementation of the 2018 national smoke-free law. Data are from the Internationa…
Changes in Smoking and Vaping over 18 Months among Smokers and Recent Ex-Smokers
This descriptive study of smokers (smoked at least monthly) and recent ex-smokers (quit for ≤2 years) examined transitions over an 18 month period in their smoking and vaping behaviors. Data are from Waves 1 (W1: 2016) and 2 (W2: 2018) of the ITC Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey, a cohort study of adult (≥18+) smokers, concurrent users (smoke and vape), and recent ex-smokers from Australia, Canada, England, and the United States (US). Respo…
Effectiveness of Text-Only Cigarette Health Warnings in Japan
Health warnings are an effective strategy for communicating the health harms of smoking, encouraging quitting, and preventing smoking initiation. This study examines the effectiveness of existing text-only health warnings, identifies key predictors of warning effectiveness, and assesses support for pictorial warnings in Japan. Data are from the 2018 International Tobacco Control (ITC) Japan Survey, a cohort survey of adult cigarette smokers (n = …
Impact of China National Tobacco Company’s ‘Premiumization’ Strategy
Our findings demonstrate that the rising trend in Chinese smokers' choice of 'less harmful', 'higher quality' and 'affordable' cigarettes, particularly PBCs, is likely due to CNTC's aggressive marketing strategies. Strong tobacco control policies that prohibit CNTC's marketing activities are critical in order to dispel erroneous beliefs that sustain continued smoking in China, where the global tobacco epidemic is exerting its greatest toll
Disentangling the roles of point-of-sale ban, tobacco retailer density and proximity on cessation and relapse among a cohort of smokers
Banning POS retail displays shows promise as an additional tool to prevent relapse, although these results need to be confirmed in larger longitudinal studies
HIV test uptake among MSM in China
Despite global efforts to increase HIV test uptake among men who have sex with men (MSM), social stigma and negative attitudes toward homosexuality hinder the effectiveness of traditional test promotion campaigns. Increasing HIV test uptake requires greater understanding of the conditions that facilitate decisions to get tested. We conducted an online survey hosted by two of the most highly frequented MSM web portals in China. A generalised order…
Spatial and temporal patterns of smoking prevalence in Ontario
The identified spatial and temporal variations help to indicate problems at the local level and suggest future research directions. Identifying these variations helps to strengthen surveillance and monitoring of smoking behaviours and the evaluation of policy and program development at the small-area level
The lower effectiveness of text-only health warnings in China compared to pictorial warnings in Malaysia
The delay in implementing pictorial health warnings in China constitutes a lost opportunity for increasing knowledge and awareness of the harms of cigarettes, and for motivating smokers to quit
Sociodemographic and sexual behavior characteristics of an online MSM sample in Guangdong, China
Public health research and interventions often assume that men who have sex with men (MSM) who use the Internet in China have similar characteristics to those in Western countries, though with little empirical evidence. This study aimed to describe and examine the sociodemographic and basic sexual behavioral characteristics of an online sample of MSM in Guangdong, China. In 2010, a total of 1100 MSM were recruited from an lesbian, gay, bisexual, …
Spatial and environmental impacts on adverse birth outcomes in Ontario
This study assesses the overall spatial variations and neighbourhood‐level “hot spots” of low birth weight and preterm birth incidence within three public health units in Ontario, Canada. The analysis uses a stepwise approach of intra‐class correlation analysis, a spatial scan statistic, and multilevel spatial modeling. Results show that neighbourhood level variation accounts for only 2–3 percent of the total variation of adverse birth outcomes i…
Assessing housing quality in metropolitan Lima, Peru
Assessing housing quality in metropolitan Lima, Peru
Spatial and environmental impacts on adverse birth outcomes in Ontario
This study assesses the overall spatial variations and neighbourhood‐level “hot spots” of low birth weight and preterm birth incidence within three public health units in Ontario, Canada. The analysis uses a stepwise approach of intra‐class correlation analysis, a spatial scan statistic, and multilevel spatial modeling. Results show that neighbourhood level variation accounts for only 2–3 percent of the total variation of adverse birth outcomes i…
Sociodemographic and sexual behavior characteristics of an online MSM sample in Guangdong, China
Public health research and interventions often assume that men who have sex with men (MSM) who use the Internet in China have similar characteristics to those in Western countries, though with little empirical evidence. This study aimed to describe and examine the sociodemographic and basic sexual behavioral characteristics of an online sample of MSM in Guangdong, China. In 2010, a total of 1100 MSM were recruited from an lesbian, gay, bisexual, …
Spatial and temporal patterns of smoking prevalence in Ontario
The identified spatial and temporal variations help to indicate problems at the local level and suggest future research directions. Identifying these variations helps to strengthen surveillance and monitoring of smoking behaviours and the evaluation of policy and program development at the small-area level
The lower effectiveness of text-only health warnings in China compared to pictorial warnings in Malaysia
The delay in implementing pictorial health warnings in China constitutes a lost opportunity for increasing knowledge and awareness of the harms of cigarettes, and for motivating smokers to quit
HIV test uptake among MSM in China
Despite global efforts to increase HIV test uptake among men who have sex with men (MSM), social stigma and negative attitudes toward homosexuality hinder the effectiveness of traditional test promotion campaigns. Increasing HIV test uptake requires greater understanding of the conditions that facilitate decisions to get tested. We conducted an online survey hosted by two of the most highly frequented MSM web portals in China. A generalised order…
Impact of China National Tobacco Company’s ‘Premiumization’ Strategy
Our findings demonstrate that the rising trend in Chinese smokers' choice of 'less harmful', 'higher quality' and 'affordable' cigarettes, particularly PBCs, is likely due to CNTC's aggressive marketing strategies. Strong tobacco control policies that prohibit CNTC's marketing activities are critical in order to dispel erroneous beliefs that sustain continued smoking in China, where the global tobacco epidemic is exerting its greatest toll
Disentangling the roles of point-of-sale ban, tobacco retailer density and proximity on cessation and relapse among a cohort of smokers
Banning POS retail displays shows promise as an additional tool to prevent relapse, although these results need to be confirmed in larger longitudinal studies
Prosocial Behavior Can Moderate the Relationship Between Rumination and Mindfulness
Encouraging prosocial behavior is an effective way to improve mindfulness in highly ruminative individuals
Awareness of Marketing of Heated Tobacco Products and Cigarettes and Support for Tobacco Marketing Restrictions in Japan
Japan is one of the world's largest cigarette markets and the top heated tobacco product (HTP) market. No forms of tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship (TAPS) are banned under national law, although the industry has some voluntary TAPS restrictions. This study examines Japanese tobacco users' self-reported exposure to cigarette and HTP marketing through eight channels, as well as their support for TAPS bans. Data are from the 2018 ITC …
Reasons for Regularly Using Heated Tobacco Products among Adult Current and Former Smokers in Japan
The market growth of heated tobacco products (HTPs), such as IQOS, Ploom TECH, and glo, has increased dramatically in Japan since 2016. Little is known about the reasons why current and former smokers are using HTPs. The data for this cross-sectional study were from the 2018 (Wave 1) International Tobacco Control (ITC) Japan Survey, a national web-based survey of 4500 people, including 658 current HTP users, of whom 549 were concurrently smoking …
Secondhand Smoke Exposure in Public Places and Support for Smoke-Free Laws in Japan
Comprehensive smoke-free policies such as those called for by the WHO FCTC are the only way to protect the public effectively from the harms of secondhand smoke (SHS), yet Japan has been slow to implement this important health measure. This study examines baseline levels of smoking and SHS exposure in public places and support for smoking bans in Japan prior to the implementation of the 2018 national smoke-free law. Data are from the Internationa…
Changes in Smoking and Vaping over 18 Months among Smokers and Recent Ex-Smokers
This descriptive study of smokers (smoked at least monthly) and recent ex-smokers (quit for ≤2 years) examined transitions over an 18 month period in their smoking and vaping behaviors. Data are from Waves 1 (W1: 2016) and 2 (W2: 2018) of the ITC Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey, a cohort study of adult (≥18+) smokers, concurrent users (smoke and vape), and recent ex-smokers from Australia, Canada, England, and the United States (US). Respo…
Effectiveness of Text-Only Cigarette Health Warnings in Japan
Health warnings are an effective strategy for communicating the health harms of smoking, encouraging quitting, and preventing smoking initiation. This study examines the effectiveness of existing text-only health warnings, identifies key predictors of warning effectiveness, and assesses support for pictorial warnings in Japan. Data are from the 2018 International Tobacco Control (ITC) Japan Survey, a cohort survey of adult cigarette smokers (n = …
Evaluating the impact of menthol cigarette bans on cessation and smoking behaviours in Canada
Although menthol smokers were most likely to switch to non-menthol cigarettes, the menthol ban was also significantly associated with higher rates of quit attempts and quit success among menthol smokers compared with non-menthol smokers, and may have helped to prevent relapse among menthol smokers who had quit smoking before the ban. Results confirm and extend evaluation of Ontario's menthol ban across provinces covering 83% of the Canadian popul…
Quasi-experimental evaluation of Kenya’s pictorial health warnings versus Zambia’s single text-only warning
The introduction of PHWs in Kenya substantially increased the effectiveness of warnings. These results provide strong empirical support for 34 African countries that still have text-only warnings, of which 31 are Parties of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and are thus obligated to implement PHWs
Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) flavours and devices used by adults before and after the 2020 US FDA ENDS enforcement priority
Between 2018 and the early phase of the FDA's 2020 enforcement priority, prevalence of menthol/mint and fruit/other-flavoured cartridges increased among adults. Half of vapers using cartridge flavours covered in the enforcement switched to other flavours and/or devices that were exempt, with the exception of disposables. The extent to which more comprehensive restrictions may be problematic for adults who prefer a range of ENDS flavours remains u…
Impact of Canada’s menthol cigarette ban on quitting among menthol smokers
This pooled analysis of Canada's menthol cigarette ban provides the foundation for estimating the impact of menthol bans in the USA and other countries. Projections suggest that a US menthol cigarette ban would have a substantial impact on increasing quitting
Prevalence, perceptions and factors associated with menthol cigarette smoking
Menthols are highly prevalent among females in both countries. There is a need in African countries to combat the myth that menthols are less harmful and to ban menthol and other flavourings
Differences in Smoking Cessation Behaviors and Vaping Status among Adult Daily Smokers with and Without Depression, Anxiety, and Alcohol Use
This study examined differences in quit attempts, 1-month quit success, and vaping status at follow-up among a cohort of 3709 daily smokers with and without depression, anxiety, and regular alcohol use who participated in both the 2018 and 2020 International Tobacco Control Four Country Smoking and Vaping (ITC 4CV) Surveys. At baseline, a survey with validated screening tools was used to classify respondents as having no, or one or more of the fo…
Impacts of revised smoke-free regulations under the 2020 Japan Health Promotion Act on cigarette smoking and heated tobacco product use in indoor public places and homes
The implementation of the HPA was limited in its effectiveness. Comprehensive regulations with no exemptions are needed in Japan
Reasons for using e-cigarettes among adults who smoke
E-cigarette use for curiosity and pleasure predominated among adults who smoked. The reasons for dual use in adults have shifted from goal-oriented to non-goal-oriented
Knowledge and Concerns About Smoking‐Related Health Risks
Examining the impact of England’s menthol cigarette ban on postban smoking cessation
While quit success was higher among participants who smoked menthol, small sample sizes and wide CIs limited the ability to detect associations. Continued menthol use and widespread accessory use suggest regulatory loopholes may be undermining the ban's effectiveness
Use of nicotine pouches among adults who currently or formerly smoked cigarettes and/or vaped nicotine
We found a significant increase in NP ever-use and current use between 2022 and 2024 among adults with established nicotine product use, consistent with national sales trends. Further research is needed to determine whether adults are using NPs as a tool to quit smoking or sustain abstinence after quitting
Medicine (20 works) · Smoking Behavior and Cessation (20 works) · Environmental health (16 works) · Public health (14 works) · Demography (11 works) · Tobacco control (11 works) · Demography (9 works) · Business (8 works) · Internal Medicine (7 works) · Political science (7 works)