Changes in Electronic Cigarette Use from 2013 to 2015 and Reasons for Use among Finnish Adolescents.

Jaana Kinnunen,Arja Rimpelä,Pirjo Lindfors,Hanna Ollila

doi:10.3390/ijerph13111114

Abstract

Electronic cigarettes are quite a new potential source of nicotine addiction among youth. More research is needed, particularly on e-liquid use and socioeconomic factors as potential determinants. We studied changes from 2013 to 2015 in adolescent e-cigarette awareness and ever-use, types of e-liquids, and determinants in Finland. In 2015, we studied weekly use and reasons for ever-use. Data were from two national surveys of 12–18-year-old Finns (2013, n = 3535, response rate 38%; 2015, n = 6698, 41%). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were used. Awareness and ever-use of e-cigarettes increased significantly from 2013 to 2015 in all age and gender groups. Ever-use increased from 17.4% to 25%, with half having tried nicotine e-liquids. In 2015, weekly use was rare (1.5%). Daily cigarette smoking was the strongest determinant (OR 51.75; 95% CI 38.18–70.14) for e-cigarette ever-use, as for e-cigarette weekly use, but smoking experimentation and ever-use of snus (Swedish type moist snuff) and waterpipes alongside parental smoking and poor academic achievement also increased the odds for ever-use. The most common reason behind e-cigarette ever-use was the desire to try something new. To conclude, adolescent e-cigarette ever-use is increasing, and also among never-smokers. Tobacco-related factors are stronger determinants for e-cigarette use than socioeconomic factors.

Highlights

Awareness and use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) or electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) has been increasing both among adults and adolescents [1,2,3,4]
A handful of studies have inquired about the reasons or motives behind adolescent e-cigarette experimentation or use
Most adolescents had tried e-cigarettes only once or twice (12.6% in 2013 and 16.4% in 2015). The proportion of those who had tried e-cigarettes more than 20 times had risen from 2.0% to 4.7%

Summary

Introduction

Awareness and use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) or electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) has been increasing both among adults and adolescents [1,2,3,4]. E-cigarette experimentation (tried at least once) and more regular use seem to center on younger smokers, but are not limited to them—growing proportions of e-cigarette use among never-smoking adolescents and young adults are being reported [5,6]. A handful of studies have inquired about the reasons or motives behind adolescent e-cigarette experimentation or use. Top reasons for discontinuation in the U.S study [7] were losing interest, perceiving e-cigarettes as “uncool” and expressing health concerns. Adolescent cigarette smokers perceived that e-cigarettes can be used in places where smoking is prohibited, which is what led them to try e-cigarettes.

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion