Awareness, current use of electronic cigarettes and associated smoking factors in Zhejiang Chinese adolescents.

Meng Wang,Min Yu,Jin Pan,Wei-Wei Gong,Hao Wang,Kai-Xu Xie,Ru-Ying Hu,Sarah E Jackson

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0224033

Abstract

ObjectivesThe present study aims at examining the prevalence of awareness and current use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) among middle and high school students from Zhejiang, China. Smoking-related factors associated with e-cigarettes use will also be explored.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was based on 2017 Zhejiang Youth Risk Behavior Survey. A total of 24,157 adolescents were recruited and relevant data of e-cigarettes and smoking-related factors were collected via a self-reported questionnaire. Logistic regression models were used to examine the association between e-cigarettes current use and the smoking-related factors. Odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported.ResultsOverall, 70.61% of middle and high school students reported hearing of e-cigarettes, while only 2.15% reported using e-cigarettes in the past month. Among smoking-related factors, cigarette smoking (ever and current), use of other tobacco products, second hand smoke exposure and previous attempts to quit smoking were significantly associated with higher current e-cigarettes use in adolescents.ConclusionsThese results presented high awareness of e-cigarettes while relatively low use in Chinese adolescents. Smoking-related factors were significantly associated with increased e-cigarettes use.

Highlights

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are handheld electronic devices simulating the experience of smoking a cigarette via heating a liquid which generates an aerosol, or vapor, that is inhaled by the user
Among smoking-related factors, cigarette smoking, use of other tobacco products, second hand smoke exposure and previous attempts to quit smoking were significantly associated with higher current e-cigarettes use in adolescents
Smoking-related factors were significantly associated with increased e-cigarettes use

Summary

Introduction

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are handheld electronic devices simulating the experience of smoking a cigarette via heating a liquid which generates an aerosol, or vapor, that is inhaled by the user. E-cigarettes are novel tobacco and nicotine products, and research has indicated that factors associated with e-cigarettes use were similar to those related to cigarette smoking [17]. From this perspective, one way to prevent e-cigarettes use in adolescents is to avoid their exposure to relevant smoking factors. The primary objective of this study is to estimate the awareness and use of e-cigarettes in Chinese adolescents, and to explore the associations between smoking-related factors and current e-cigarettes use

Objectives

Methods

Conclusion