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. 2022 Oct 29;19(21):14130.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph192114130.

Do Current Smokers and Ex-Smokers Who Use Nicotine Vaping Products Daily Versus Weekly Differ on Their Reasons for Vaping? Findings from the 2020 ITC Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey

Shannon Gravely  1 , Hua-Hie Yong  2 , Jessica L Reid  3 , Katherine A East  4 , Coral E Gartner  5 , David T Levy  6 , K Michael Cummings  7 , Ron Borland  8 , Anne C K Quah  1 , Maansi Bansal-Travers  9 , Janine Ouimet  1 , Geoffrey T Fong  1   3   10
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Do Current Smokers and Ex-Smokers Who Use Nicotine Vaping Products Daily Versus Weekly Differ on Their Reasons for Vaping? Findings from the 2020 ITC Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey

Shannon Gravely et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

This study examined reasons why adults who currently smoke or formerly smoked cigarettes use nicotine vaping products (NVPs) by vaping frequency (daily vs. weekly) stratified by smoking status. This cross-sectional study included 3070 adults from the 2020 ITC Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey (Australia, Canada, England, United States) who reported using a NVP (vaping) at least weekly and who either currently smoke (n = 2467) or formerly smoked (n = 603). Respondents were asked to select the reason(s) they use NVPs, including to manage their smoking (reduce/quit or remain quit) and/or for reasons unrelated to managing smoking (e.g., to save money, enjoyment, flavours). We found that both current and former smokers endorsed an average of six reasons for vaping, with those vaping daily reporting significantly more reasons than those vaping weekly. Among current smokers, 72.8% reported vaping may help them quit smoking, 13.0% reported vaping to reduce smoking but not to quit, and 14.2% reported vaping only for reasons other than to reduce or quit smoking. The most common reason for vaping among current smokers was to reduce smoking (81.3%). Current smokers vaping daily were significantly more likely than those vaping weekly to report using a NVP to reduce smoking, for enjoyment, to reduce harm to themselves and others, to quit smoking, likeable flavours, and to save money. The most common reason cited for vaping by respondents who formerly smoked was enjoyment, with those who vaped daily more likely than those who vaped weekly to report vaping for enjoyment and to reduce harm to themselves. Nearly all reported vaping to help stay abstinent from smoking (92.3%), with no significant difference by vaping frequency. In conclusion, a majority of respondents reported using NVPs to manage their smoking (reduce/quit smoking or remain quit), particularly those vaping daily. Those who were vaping daily also endorsed a greater number of reasons other than managing smoking relative to those who were vaping weekly.

Keywords: adults; cigarettes; nicotine vaping products; smoking; use reasons; vaping.

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Conflict of interest statement

KMC has in the past and continues to serve as a paid expert witness in litigation filed against cigarette manufacturers. GTF has served as an expert witness or consultant for governments defending their country’s policies or regulations in litigation. GTF and SG served as paid expert consultants to the Ministry of Health of Singapore in reviewing the evidence on plain/standardized packaging. None of the other authors have any conflict of interests to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Reasons for vaping among current smokers by vaping frequency, (% yes, weighted).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Reasons for vaping among current smokers: quit-reduce smoking versus other reasons only, (% yes, weighted). N = 2467. Data are weighted and adjusted for sex, age, income, education, and vaping frequency.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Reasons for vaping among ex-smokers by vaping frequency (% yes, weighted).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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