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. 2016 Sep;138(3):e20160895.
doi: 10.1542/peds.2016-0895. Epub 2016 Aug 8.

Reasons for Trying E-cigarettes and Risk of Continued Use

Krysten W Bold  1 , Grace Kong  2 , Dana A Cavallo  2 , Deepa R Camenga  3 , Suchitra Krishnan-Sarin  2
Affiliations

Reasons for Trying E-cigarettes and Risk of Continued Use

Krysten W Bold et al. Pediatrics. 2016 Sep.

Erratum in

Abstract

Background: Longitudinal research is needed to identify predictors of continued electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use among youth. We expected that certain reasons for first trying e-cigarettes would predict continued use over time (eg, good flavors, friends use), whereas other reasons would not predict continued use (eg, curiosity).

Methods: Longitudinal surveys from middle and high school students from fall 2013 (wave 1) and spring 2014 (wave 2) were used to examine reasons for trying e-cigarettes as predictors of continued e-cigarette use over time. Ever e-cigarette users (n = 340) at wave 1 were categorized into those using or not using e-cigarettes at wave 2. Among those who continued using e-cigarettes, reasons for trying e-cigarettes were examined as predictors of use frequency, measured as the number of days using e-cigarettes in the past 30 days at wave 2. Covariates included age, sex, race, and smoking of traditional cigarettes.

Results: Several reasons for first trying e-cigarettes predicted continued use, including low cost, the ability to use e-cigarettes anywhere, and to quit smoking regular cigarettes. Trying e-cigarettes because of low cost also predicted more days of e-cigarette use at wave 2. Being younger or a current smoker of traditional cigarettes also predicted continued use and more frequent use over time.

Conclusions: Regulatory strategies such as increasing cost or prohibiting e-cigarette use in certain places may be important for preventing continued use in youth. In addition, interventions targeting current cigarette smokers and younger students may also be needed.

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Conflict of interest statement

POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST: The authors have indicated they have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Values represent the percentage of middle and high school students who endorsed each reason for first trying e-cigarettes among a subsample of youth who reported ever using e-cigarettes (n = 340).
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Average e-cigarette frequency by reasons for first trying e-cigarettes. Values represent the mean (SE) number of days of e-cigarette use (of the past 30 days at wave 2, spring 2014), separated according to each reason for first trying e-cigarettes.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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