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. 2022 Jul 22:29:101924.
doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.101924. eCollection 2022 Oct.

Why do smokers use e-cigarettes? A study on reasons among dual users

Allison A Temourian  1 , Anna V Song  1   2 , Deanna M Halliday  1   2 , Mariaelena Gonzalez  2   3 , Anna E Epperson  1   2
Affiliations

Why do smokers use e-cigarettes? A study on reasons among dual users

Allison A Temourian et al. Prev Med Rep. .

Abstract

Objective: There is minimal research that has measured motivations behind e-cigarette use and the relationship to cigarette and e-cigarette use. The aim of this study was to (1) examine extent to which motivations to use e-cigarettes varies among dual users and (2) examine whether e-cigarette motivations are related to e-cigarette and cigarette consumption among dual users.

Methods: Adults residing in California were recruited through social media (n = 1762, 68.9 % males, 62.9 % White) to complete an online survey. Participants self-identified as using combustible cigarettes and e-cigarettes (dual users) and reported their motivations for using an e-cigarette device, nicotine consumption, and nicotine dependence with both combustible cigarettes and e-cigarettes.

Results: A greater proportion of people reported using e-cigarettes for enjoyment purposes than other motivations (34.2 %). Motivations to use e-cigarettes to quit were positively related to monthly cigarette consumption (IRR = 1.17, 95 % CI [1.08, 1.26]). Motivations to use e-cigarettes to quit smoking were also related to smoking the first cigarette within 30 min (IRR = 1.46, 95 % CI [1.05, 2.02]) and first e-cigarette within 30 min (b = 0.28, 95 % CI [0.19, 0.37]).

Conclusions: Compared to those who use e-cigarettes for enjoyment, smokers who are motivated to use e-cigarettes for cessation purposes are more likely to have greater nicotine dependence, cigarette consumption, and e-cigarette consumption. Future research needs to acknowledge that not all e-cigarette users are the same; motivations and use differ and are related to both consumption and dependence.

Keywords: Cigarette; Dual use; E-cigarette; Motivation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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