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. 2023 Jul 14:21:92.
doi: 10.18332/tid/167479. eCollection 2023.

Risk perceptions and changes in tobacco use in relation to Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic: A qualitative study on adolescent tobacco users in Hong Kong

Tianqi Chen  1 , Lijun Wang  1 , Yee Tak Derek Cheung  2 , Man Ping Wang  2 , Tai Hing Lam  2 , Sai Yin Ho  1
Affiliations

Risk perceptions and changes in tobacco use in relation to Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic: A qualitative study on adolescent tobacco users in Hong Kong

Tianqi Chen et al. Tob Induc Dis. .

Erratum in

Abstract

Introduction: Tobacco use is associated with an increased risk of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, severe COVID-19 outcomes requiring intensive care, and mortality. We investigated the perceived risk of and changes in cigarette, e-cigarette (EC) and heated tobacco product (HTP) use in relation to COVID-19 in Hong Kong adolescent tobacco users.

Methods: We conducted semi-structured telephone interviews from January to April 2021 and in February 2022 on 40 adolescents (65% boys, Secondary school grades 2-6) who participated in our previous smoking surveys and were using cigarettes, ECs or HTPs before the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020.

Results: Adolescents generally perceived higher risks of contracting and having more severe COVID-19 from using cigarettes than ECs/HTPs, but they had limited knowledge of COVID-19 risks from EC/HTP use, particularly. Both increased and reduced consumption were found in tobacco, with EC use being the less affected product. Changes also included switching to ECs for convenience and lower cost and shifting from smoking cigarettes outside to mainly at home or in hidden areas. COVID-related policies, fear of infection, non-COVID-related health concerns, less social opportunities and pocket money, and limited access to tobacco products were barriers to tobacco use. In contrast, greater freedom at home versus school and negative emotions due to social distancing were facilitators. Family/peer influence had mixed impacts.

Conclusions: Adolescent tobacco users perceived lower COVID risks associated with HTPs and ECs than cigarettes, and various changes in tobacco use were found amid the pandemic in Hong Kong. COVID-19 and related social changes may both facilitate or deter adolescent tobacco use.

Keywords: COVID-19; adolescents; e-cigarettes; risk perception; tobacco use.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have completed and submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest and none was reported.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram of the recruitment process of the qualitative study
Figure 2
Figure 2
Changes in specific tobacco use in the early phase (Feb–Mar 2020) and later phases (July–Aug 2020, Nov–Dec 2020) of the COVID-19 pandemic
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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