Tobacco cigarette use versus electronic cigarette use: determinants of smoking and vaping behavior
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1
RIVM, Centre for Health Protection, Netherlands
2
Maastricht University, Health Promotion, Netherlands
Publication date: 2018-03-01
Tob. Induc. Dis. 2018;16(Suppl 1):A235
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KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Background:
It is important to know why individuals use
electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) compared to tobacco cigarettes. This comparison
provides policy makers with opportunities to target different types of users. This
study examined behavioral determinants associated with both tobacco and
e-cigarette use. Differences between non-users (neither e-cigarette users nor
smokers), smokers, e-cigarette users, and dual users were assessed for tobacco
use versus e-cigarette use among adults (>18 years).
Methods:
A cross-sectional survey (n=726) among 223
non-users, 287 smokers, and 216 e-cigarette users was conducted in the
Netherlands. The questionnaire assessed demographics, tobacco and e-cigarette
behavior, knowledge, attitudes, social ties, risk perception, intention, and
deliberation.
Results:
Health benefits was the most frequently
reported reason for e-cigarette use. Overall, 30.8% of the respondents were
non-users, 39.5% smokers, 29.7% e-cigarette users, and 15.4% dual users. Ever
use of e-cigarettes was 29.6 %. Of the ever users, 45.6 % used e-cigarettes
daily, 20.9% weekly, and 10.7 % on a monthly basis. A low socio-economic status
was associated with ever use of e-cigarettes, and older participants were less
likely to have used e-cigarettes. Participants knew more about tobacco
cigarettes than e-cigarettes. Furthermore, non-users perceived the social
environment to be more negative towards e-cigarette and tobacco use. Additionally,
non-users and smokers perceived e-cigarettes as more harmful than e-cigarette
users. Smokers were significantly more likely to have an intention to start
vaping compared to non-users. Finally, e-cigarette users made a deliberate
choice to vape.
Conclusions:
Determinants of smoking and vaping behavior
differ between non-users, smokers, e-cigarette users, and dual users. Using the
determinants of behavior assessed, we are able to predict e-cigarette use among
non-users and smokers. Policy makers could use these determinants, such as e-cigarette
attractiveness, to specifically target dual users, smokers, e-cigarette users
or non-users.