Elsevier

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

Volume 173, 1 April 2017, Pages 139-143
Drug and Alcohol Dependence

Short communication
What factors are associated with current smokers using or stopping e-cigarette use?

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.01.002Get rights and content
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open access

Highlights

  • Some smokers also use e-cigarettes; many stop e-cigarette use but continue to smoke.

  • Smokers using e-cigarettes are more motivated to stop smoking than other smokers.

  • Smokers who discontinue using e-cigarettes have a higher dependence on smoking.

Abstract

Background

While some smokers use e-cigarettes and stop smoking, a substantial proportion try e-cigarettes and later discontinue or use them concurrently with smoking (current dual users). The aim was to assess factors associated with ongoing e-cigarette use and discontinuation among smokers.

Methods

Secondary analysis of data of 1489 currently smoking adults, 18 and above, from a GB population-based online survey conducted in March 2016. A multivariable logistic regression assessed motivation to stop smoking among never e-cigarette users, past triers (<weekly use), past users (≥weekly use), and current dual users. A multinomial logistic regression assessed associations of e-cigarette use status with motivation to stop smoking, reasons for use, age, gender, social grade, heaviness of smoking, and type of first e-cigarette used. Reasons for discontinuing use were assessed.

Results

Current dual users were more motivated to stop smoking than past users (AOR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.10-3.46); never users’ or past triers’ motivation did not differ from past users’. Dual users were less dependent on cigarettes (AOR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.35–0.86) and more likely to use e-cigarettes as an aid to reduce smoking (AOR = 2.40, 95% CI: 1.59–3.64) and to deal with smoking restrictions (AOR = 2.03, 95% CI: 1.22–3.38) than past users. Smokers mostly discontinued e-cigarettes because they did not feel like smoking, did not help with cravings, or respondents had just wanted to try them.

Conclusion

Among smokers, ongoing use of e-cigarettes is associated with reasons for reducing smoking and dealing with smoking restrictions, heightened motivation to stop smoking, and lower dependence on smoking.

Keywords

Electronic cigarettes
Smoking
Motivation to quit

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