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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2023 Apr 1:245:109824.
doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.109824. Epub 2023 Feb 26.

Change in E-cigarette risk perception and smoking behavior of Black and Latinx individuals who smoke

Sangah Clara Lee  1 , Dale Dagar Maglalang  2 , Jaqueline C Avila  3 , Eleanor L S Leavens  4 , Nicole L Nollen  5 , Kim Pulvers  6 , Jasjit S Ahluwalia  7
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Change in E-cigarette risk perception and smoking behavior of Black and Latinx individuals who smoke

Sangah Clara Lee et al. Drug Alcohol Depend. .

Abstract

Introduction: Trends in knowledge and beliefs about e-cigarette (EC) harm have been changing. Our study examined whether change in risk perception of ECs predicts cigarettes smoked per week (CPW) among Black and Latinx individuals who smoke enrolled in an EC switching randomized clinical trial (RCT).

Methods: We analyzed data from one arm of a 6-week EC RCT of individuals who smoke attempting to switch to nicotine salt pod system ECs (n = 110; Black, n = 57; Latinx, n = 53). Our explanatory variable was change in risk perception of ECs compared to combustible cigarettes (CC) from baseline to week 6. Our outcome was CPW measured by a 7-day timeline follow-back interview. A negative binomial GEE model was conducted to examine the association between risk perception and CPW at baseline and week 6.

Results: The mean CPW decreased from 82.8 (SD=49.8) at baseline to 15.8 (SD=29.8) at week 6. A one-level increase in EC risk perception (i.e., EC perceived as riskier than CC from baseline to week 6) was associated with an increase in CPW (IRR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.03; 3.24). Latinx participants were more likely to have higher CPW as EC risk perception increased compared to Black participants (IRR=1.89, 95% CI: 1.09; 3.26).

Conclusion: We found that CPW at week 6 was significantly higher as change in risk perception of EC relative to CC increased. Given the influence of risk perception on smoking behavior, people who smoke should be educated on the benefits and harms of ECs.

Keywords: Electronic cigarettes; Product substitution; Product-switching; Risk perception; Smoking behavior.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest Dr. Ahluwalia received sponsored funds for travel expenses as a speaker for the 2021 annual GTNF conference. Dr. Ahluwalia serves as a consultant and has equity in a start-up company Qnovia, formerly known as Respira Technologies.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Average marginal effects of Model 2 testing the interaction between EC risk perception and study week, adjusted for covariates
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Average marginal effects of Model 3 testing the interaction between EC risk perception and race/ethnicity, adjusted for covariates *CPW is significantly different for individuals with a change in EC risk perception of 0 (p=0.03). There were no significant differences in CPW by race/ethnicity for the other EC risk perception levels (−2, −1, 1).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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