Comparing the Characteristics of Cigarette Smoking and e-Cigarette and IQOS Use among Adolescents in Taiwan.

Yue-Chune Lee,Li-Chuan Chang,Chieh Hsu,Pei-Ching Chen

doi:10.1155/2020/7391587

Abstract

Objectives Our objective in this study was to identify the risk factors for cigarette, e-cigarette, and IQOS use among adolescents in Taiwan, with a particular focus on socioeconomic status, smoking status of parents and peers, cigarette promotions, and anti-tobacco campaigns. Methods Data were obtained from the 2018 version of the annual cross-sectional Taiwan Global Youth Tobacco Survey, which is used to monitor tobacco use among Taiwanese adolescents in junior and senior high schools. The dependent variables in the study were “current cigarette smoking,” “current use of e-cigarettes,” and “current use of IQOS devices” (i.e., during the 30 days prior to survey completion). Independent variables included gender, school grade, monthly income/allowance, educational level of parents, smoking status of parents, smoking status of close friends, access to free cigarettes, exposure to cigarette advertisements, and attendance at anti-tobacco courses. Logistic regression was used in the identification of factors correlated with the current use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or IQOS. Results We determined that 5.65% of the adolescents in the study were currently using cigarettes, 2.74% were currently using e-cigarettes, and 2.33% were currently using IQOS. Our analysis revealed a number of factors that have a bearing on smoking behavior, including gender, monthly allowance, educational level of parents, smoking status of parents and close friends, access to free cigarettes, and exposure to cigarette advertisements. Conclusions The tobacco product that was most widely used by adolescents was cigarettes, followed by e-cigarettes and IQOS. The socioeconomic status, smoking status of parents/close friends, and access to cigarettes were all identified as important factors related to the current use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and IQOS by adolescents.

Highlights

Heated tobacco products (HTPs) are similar to e-cigarettes in their use of heat to volatilize nicotine to just below the point of combustion, so that users inhale aerosols rather than smoke
Cullen et al [10] reported an increase in current e-cigarette use among high school students in the United States (US) from 1.5% in 2011 (220,000 students) to 20.8% in 2018 (3.05 million students). ey reported an increase in current e-cigarette use among US middle school students from 0.6% in 2011 (60,000 students) to 4.9% in 2018 (570,000 students)
Local health bureaus oversee the administration of the survey after the staff undergoes training by the Health Promotion Administration (HPA). is paper survey is administered in all classrooms simultaneously to prevent students discussing the questions beforehand. e HPA submitted this investigation to the Institutional Review Board for review

Summary

Introduction

Heated tobacco products (HTPs) are similar to e-cigarettes in their use of heat to volatilize nicotine (in a nicotinecontaining liquid) to just below the point of combustion, so that users inhale aerosols rather than smoke. E focus of HTP marketing on young people [3] has led to a significant increase in the prevalence of e-cigarette and IQOS use among adolescents around the world [2, 4,5,6,7,8,9]. Ey reported an increase in current e-cigarette use among US middle school students from 0.6% in 2011 (60,000 students) to 4.9% in 2018 (570,000 students). A number of studies have explored the risk factors associated with the use of e-cigarettes among adolescents [7, 12,13,14,15,16]. Based on the data obtained in that survey, this is the first study to examine the risk factors for cigarette, e-cigarette, and IQOS use among adolescents

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion