How is heated tobacco product use described by people who use them daily?

Heated tobacco products (HTPs) heat tobacco, usually in the form of a stick of compacted, reconstituted tobacco rather than burning it, to produce an aerosol that contains nicotine and other tobacco constituents. In countries where these products are marketed, prevalence has increased, most notably Japan.1 HTPs deliver lower levels of toxicants than conventional cigarette smoke2 and are promoted as harm-reduced alternatives to smoking. It is unclear how HTP users describe the act of inhaling the aerosol generated. One qualitative study among adult HTP users found considerable confusion as to what term was appropriate,3 and although the term ‘smoking’ was commonly used, they resisted being labelled as ‘smokers’.