Perception of Harms and Benefits of Electronic Cigarettes Among Adult Malaysian Men: A Comparison by Electronic Cigarette Use and Smoking Status

Little is known about the perceptions of harm and benefit associated with the use of e-cigarettes in Malaysia. This was a cross-sectional analysis of a nationally representative sample comprising 1987 males (≥18 years of age). Current, former, and never users of conventional cigarettes and/or e-cigarettes participated in a questionnaire study conducted via face-to-face interviews. The relationship between participant characteristics and perceptions of harm and benefit of e-cigarettes were determined with multivariable logistic regression. There were 950 current, 377 former, and 660 never users of e-cigarettes. Government employees (odds ratio [OR] = 1.85, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.29-2.66, P = .001), private sector employees (OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.27-2.18, P = .001), and the self-employed people (OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.31-2.17, P = .001) were more likely to perceive e-cigarettes as more harmful than conventional cigarettes compared with respondents who were not wage earners. All current users in the form of e-cigarette users (OR = 7.87, 95% CI = 3.23-19.18), conventional cigarette smokers (OR = 1.80, 95% CI = 1.39-2.33), and dual users (OR = 8.59, 95% CI = 4.76-15.52) were more likely to perceive e-cigarettes as useful in quitting conventional cigarette smoking compared with former and never users. Our findings constitute an important snapshot into the perceptions of e-cigarette harms and benefits, which could inform targeted public health messaging strategies.

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Awareness and use of heated tobacco products among adult smokers in six European countries: findings from the EUREST-PLUS ITC Europe Surveys

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckz228 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. iii78-iii83

Author(s):

Lucia Maria Lotrean ◽

Antigona Trofor ◽

Cornel Radu-Loghin ◽

Marius Eremia ◽

Florin Mihaltan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Electronic Cigarettes ◽

Smoking Status ◽

European Countries ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Cigarette Smokers ◽

Tobacco Products ◽

Face To Face ◽

Quit Smoking ◽

Weighted Data ◽

Nationally Representative

Abstract Background The study assessed awareness and use of heated tobacco products (HTPs) and factors that influenced these issues among cigarette smokers from six European countries in 2016 (Wave 1) and 2018 (Wave 2). Methods A survey was conducted among a nationally representative sample of cigarette smokers aged 18 years or older from Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Spain in 2016 (N = 6011) and 2018 (N = 6027; 53% of smokers from the previous wave were retained, regardless of smoking status and dropouts were replaced by a replenishment sample of smokers). Data were collected through face-to-face interviews. Estimates were produced using weighted data. The study presents the cross-sectional results. Results Awareness of HTPs increased from 8% to 17% between the two waves. At Wave 1, 1.1% of the smokers declared having used HTPs at least once during their lifetime; and at Wave 2, this increased to 1.9% (around 1% or less in four countries, except for Greece and Romania where it was around 4%). Factors associated with HTPs use among those who had ever heard about these products at Wave 1 were country of residence, being a daily cigarette smoker and ever use of electronic cigarettes. At Wave 2, ever use of HTPs was significantly higher among those who had tried to quit smoking combustible cigarettes in the last 12 months, had tried electronic cigarettes during lifetime and perceived HTPs as less dangerous than combustible cigarettes; the country of residence was also associated with HTPs use. Conclusion This study offers insights into the behaviours and perceptions of European adult smokers regarding HTPs, an important emerging issue in the field of tobacco control.

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E-Cigarette Use by Smoking Status in Estonia, 2012–2018

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17020519 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 519

Author(s):

Rainer Reile ◽

Kersti Pärna

Keyword(s):

General Population ◽

Smoking Status ◽

Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis ◽

Sociodemographic Factors ◽

Cigarette Use ◽

Public Health Perspective ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Public ◽

Period Effects ◽

Nationally Representative

Background: In the context of declining smoking rates in Estonia, this study aims to analyze the recent trends in e-cigarette use and its associations with smoking status and sociodemographic factors. Methods: Nationally representative data from biennial cross-sectional health surveys in 2012–2018 (n = 9988) were used to describe the prevalence of smoking and e-cigarette use by smoking status in Estonia. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to describe the sociodemographic patterns of e-cigarette use in three subgroups: the general population, smokers, and ex-smokers. Results: The prevalence of current smoking decreased from 45.4% in 2012 to 31.5% in 2018 among men and from 26.6% to 20.0% among women. At the same time, e-cigarette use in the general population had increased to 3.7% among men and to 1.2% among women. The increase in the prevalence of e-cigarette use was statistically significant among men in the general population, smokers, and ex-smokers, but non-significant among women. In addition to period effects, e-cigarette use was patterned by age, gender, and education. Conclusion: In 2002–2018, the e-cigarette use had increased but smoking had decreased in Estonia. A timely and targeted tobacco policy may alleviate the harm of e-cigarette use from the public health perspective.

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Adherence to a Mediterranean diet and plasma fatty acids: data from the Bordeaux sample of the Three-City study

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s0007114510005805 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 106 (1) ◽

pp. 149-158 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Catherine Féart ◽

Marion J. M. Torrès ◽

Cécilia Samieri ◽

Marthe-Aline Jutand ◽

Evelyne Peuchant ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Smoking Status ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Plasma Fatty Acids ◽

Lipid Status ◽

Dementia Risk ◽

Study Population ◽

Sectional Analysis ◽

The Relationship

Higher adherence to a Mediterranean diet (MeDi) and n-3 PUFA may both contribute to decreased dementia risk, but the association between MeDi adherence and lipid status is unclear. The aim of the present study was to analyse the relationship between plasma fatty acids and MeDi adherence in French elderly community dwellers. The study population (mean age 75·9 years) consisted of 1050 subjects from Bordeaux (France) included in the Three-City cohort. Adherence to the MeDi (scored as 0–9) was computed from a FFQ and 24 h recall. The proportion of each plasma fatty acid was determined. Cross-sectional analysis of the association between plasma fatty acids and MeDi adherence was performed by multi-linear regression. After adjusting for age, sex, energy intake, physical activity, smoking status, BMI, plasma TAG and apoE-ɛ4 genotype, plasma palmitoleic acid was significantly inversely associated with MeDi adherence, whereas plasma DHA, the EPA+DHA index and total n-3 PUFA were positively associated with MeDi adherence. The n-6:n-3 PUFA, arachidonic acid (AA):EPA, AA:DHA and AA:(EPA+DHA) ratios were significantly inversely associated with MeDi adherence. Plasma EPA was positively associated with MeDi adherence only in apoE-ɛ4 non-carriers. There was no association between MeDi adherence and SFA and total MUFA. The present results suggest that the protective effect of the MeDi on cognitive functions might be mediated by higher plasma DHA and lower n-6:n-3 PUFA ratios.

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Patterns and associations of smoking and electronic cigarette use among survivors of tobacco related and non-tobacco related cancers: A nationally representative cross-sectional analysis

Cancer Epidemiology ◽

10.1016/j.canep.2021.101913 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 101913

Author(s):

Marc A. Bjurlin ◽

Ramsankar Basak ◽

Ibardo Zambrano ◽

Daniel Schatz ◽

Omar El Shahawy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Electronic Cigarette ◽

Cigarette Use ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Cross Sectional Analysis ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

Sectional Analysis

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Prevalence of Flavored e-Cigarette Use Among Subpopulations of Adults in the United States

JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute ◽

10.1093/jnci/djaa118 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Adam M Leventhal ◽

Hongying Dai

Keyword(s):

Smoking Status ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

The United States ◽

Cigarette Use ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Quit Smoking ◽

Prevalence Estimates ◽

Quitting Smoking ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

Never Smokers

Abstract Background Evidence of US adult flavored e-cigarette use prevalence stratified by age, smoking status, and purpose for vaping (ie, quitting smoking, to use when or where smoking is not allowed) can inform policies that reduce the tobacco-related cancer burden. Methods Current flavored e-cigarette use (use 1 or more nontobacco flavors) prevalence estimates were compared across subpopulation groups using 2-sided statistical significance tests in the July 2018 Current Population Survey Tobacco Use Supplement, a nationally representative cross-sectional adult survey (n = 46 759). Results Current flavored e-cigarette use was reported by 1.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.47% to 1.69%) of all respondents. Among current vapers, the percentage of those who used flavored e-cigarettes was higher for adults aged 18-24 years (89.6%), 25-34 years (86.7%), and 35-44 years (76.0%) than for adults aged 45 years and older (60.4%, Ps < .001); was higher in never smokers (89.8%) than current (72.9%), long-term former (73.9%), and recent former (80.4%) smokers (Ps ≤ .009); was higher in smokers who reportedly did (78.9%) vs did not (71.1%) use e-cigarettes to vape where or when smoking is not allowed (P = .005); and did not differ between smokers who reportedly did (75.0%) vs did not (73.9%) vape to quit smoking (P = .71). Individuals who vaped to quit smoking and currently used flavored e-cigarettes constituted 0.9% (95% CI = 0.82% to 0.99%) of all adults (weighted N = 2 251 000, 95% CI = 2 046 000 to 2 476 000) and 57.2% of current flavored e-cigarette users. Conclusions Flavored e-cigarette use prevalence was low among US adults overall but common for current vapers. Flavored e-cigarette use was disproportionately prevalent among never smokers and other subpopulations that might experience harm from vaping.

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“What does it depend on?”: Perceptions of safety related to firearms in homes and neighborhoods

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0261038 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (12) ◽

pp. e0261038

Author(s):

Rocco Pallin ◽

Garen J. Wintemute ◽

Nicole Kravitz-Wirtz

Keyword(s):

Cross Sectional ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Perceived Safety ◽

Firearm Injury ◽

Increase Risk ◽

Dangerous Place ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

Sectional Analysis ◽

The Relationship ◽

Owner Characteristics

Background Though research has established that firearms in the home increase risk for injury and death, a substantial number of Americans, especially gun owners, believe that guns make their homes safer. More than half of gun owners in a nationally-representative survey said “it depends” when asked whether guns make their homes safer or more dangerous, but little is known about the factors that affect perceived safety. Objective To determine whether the relationship between the presence of firearms and perceived home or neighborhood safety is fixed or depends on additional factors and to identify the additional factors on which it depends. Methods A mixed-methods cross-sectional analysis of the 2018 state-representative California Safety and Wellbeing Survey (n = 2558, completion rate 49%), including calculation of weighted proportions and qualitative analysis of write-in responses. Findings One in six respondents (17.2%, 95% CI 14.9% to 19.7%) reported “it depends” when asked whether a gun in their home made the home a safer or more dangerous place to be (“the home scenario”). One in six (16.6%, 95% CI 14.3% to 19.2%) reported “it depends” when asked whether the neighborhood would be safer if all neighbors had guns in the home (“the neighborhood scenario”). For the home scenario, 28.3% (95% CI 21.9% to 35.7%) cited firearm owner characteristics (e.g., training and proficiency, temperament, and mental health), 28.4% (95% CI 22.3% to 35.5%) cited firearm storage and access, and 28.0% (95% CI 21.5% to 35.7%) cited intended use for guns as factors affecting perceived safety. For the neighborhood scenario, respondents overwhelmingly cited gun owner characteristics (72.1%, 95% CI 63.4% to 79.3%). Factors on which “it depends” varied by gun ownership status. Conclusion Perceived safety when firearms are in the home depends on numerous factors. Understanding these factors may inform tailored, targeted messaging and interventions for firearm injury prevention.

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An investigation into the relationship between plain water intake and glycated Hb (HbA1c): a sex-stratified, cross-sectional analysis of the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2008–2012)

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s0007114516003688 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 116 (10) ◽

pp. 1770-1780 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Harriet A. Carroll ◽

James A. Betts ◽

Laura Johnson

Keyword(s):

Water Intake ◽

Smoking Status ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Plain Water ◽

Nutrition Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Sweetened Beverages ◽

The Uk ◽

Sectional Analysis ◽

The Relationship

AbstractThe aim of this study was to analyse the association between plain water intake and glycated Hb (HbA1c) in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2008–2012) rolling survey. These data included diet (4-d diaries) and HbA1c (fasted blood sample) measures of 456 men and 579 women aged 44 (sd 18) years with full information on covariates of interest (age, ethnicity, BMI, smoking status, education, other beverage intake, energy intake and fibre). Data were analysed using sex-stratified linear and logistic regressions modelling the associations of cups per d (240 ml) of plain water with HbA1c, and odds of HbA1c≥5·5 %, respectively. Substitution analyses modelled the replacement of sugar-sweetened beverages, fruit juice and artificially sweetened beverages with plain water. After adjustment, 1 cup/d of plain water was associated with a −0·04 % lower HbA1c (95 % CI −0·07, −0·02) in men. In logistic regression, men had a 22 % (95 % CI 10, 32 %) reduced odds of HbA1c≥5·5 %/cup per d of plain water. There was no evidence of an association with either HbA1c or odds of HbA1c≥5·5 % in women. None of the substitution models was associated with a change in odds of HbA1c≥5·5 %. Plain water intake was associated with lower HbA1c in men but not in women. Substituting water for specific beverages was not associated with a reduced odds of HbA1c≥5·5 %, suggesting that the addition of water is the more pertinent factor. Future trials should test whether the relationships between water intake and HbA1c is causal as this could be a cost-effective and simple health intervention.

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Discordance between perceived and actual tobacco product use prevalence among US youth: a comparative analysis of electronic and regular cigarettes

Tobacco Control ◽

10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2017-054113 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 212-219 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Israel Terungwa Agaku ◽

Satomi Odani ◽

David Homa ◽

Brian Armour ◽

Rebecca Glover-Kudon

Keyword(s):

Tobacco Use ◽

Electronic Cigarettes ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Tobacco Product ◽

Cigarette Use ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Media Messages ◽

School Based ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

Actual Prevalence

ImportanceTwo components of social norms—descriptive (estimated prevalence) and injunctive (perceived acceptability)—can influence youth tobacco use.ObjectiveTo investigate electronic cigarettes (e-cigarette) and cigarette descriptive norms and measure the associations between overestimation of e-cigarette and cigarette prevalence and tobacco-related attitudes and behaviours.DesignCross-sectional.SettingSchool-based, using paper-and-pencil questionnaires.ParticipantsUS 6th-12th graders participating in the 2015 (n=17 711) and 2016 (n=20 675) National Youth Tobacco Survey.ExposureStudents estimated the percent of their grade-mates who they thought used e-cigarettes and cigarettes; the discordance between perceived versus grade-specific actual prevalence was used to categorise students as overestimating (1) neither product, (2) e-cigarettes only, (3) cigarettes only or (4) both products.OutcomesProduct-specific outcomes were curiosity and susceptibility (never users), as well as ever and current use (all students). Descriptive and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Statistical significance was at P<0.05. Data were weighted to be nationally representative.ResultsMore students overestimated cigarette (74.0%) than e-cigarette prevalence (61.0%; P<0.05). However, the associations between e-cigarette-only overestimation and e-cigarette curiosity (adjusted OR (AOR)=3.29), susceptibility (AOR=2.59), ever use (AOR=5.86) and current use (AOR=8.15) were each significantly larger than the corresponding associations between cigarette-only overestimation and cigarette curiosity (AOR=1.50), susceptibility (AOR=1.54), ever use (AOR=2.04) and current use (AOR=2.52). Despite significant declines in actual e-cigarette use prevalence within each high school grade level during 2015–2016, perceived prevalence increased (11th and 12th grades) or remained unchanged (9th and 10th grades).ConclusionsFour of five US students overestimated peer e-cigarette or cigarette use. Counter-tobacco mass media messages can help denormalise tobacco use.

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The Association Between Menthol Perceptions and Support for a Policy Ban among US Smokers

Ethnicity & Disease ◽

10.18865/ed.28.3.177 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 28 (3) ◽

pp. 177 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jessica M. Rath ◽

Marisa Greenberg ◽

Lindsay Pitzer ◽

Brittany Emelle ◽

Molly Green ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sex Education ◽

Smoking Status ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Health Perceptions ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

Health Related ◽

Race Ethnicity ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

The Relationship

Objective: To examine the relationship between menthol perceptions and support for a national menthol ban.Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study.Participants: Data were collected from a nationally representative probability-based panel of adults aged ≥18 years during June 21, 2016 through July 18, 2016. A total of 1,303 respondents, including an oversample of 300 African Americans, completed the survey.Main Outcome Measures: Weighted logistic regression models examined the relationship between menthol perceptions, specifically related to health and addiction, and the outcome measure: support for a menthol ban, by menthol smoking status. All models controlled for age, sex, education level, and race/ethnicity.Results: The association between reporting accurate menthol health perceptions differed by menthol preference. Among non-menthol smokers, there was no association between accurate menthol health perceptions and support of a menthol ban while more accurate menthol perceptions of addiction were associated with greater support of a menthol ban (aOR=2.83, CI=1.19- 6.72). Among menthol smokers, more accurate health-related menthol perceptions were associated with increased odds of supporting a menthol ban (aOR=3.90, CI=1.02-14.79) while more accurate menthol addiction perceptions were not.Conclusions: Fewer current menthol smokers support a menthol ban than current non-menthol smokers given its effect on their preferred product. Given the large proportions of smokers who have misperceptions of the health consequences and addictive properties of menthol, there is a moral imperative to inform those who use these products. Findings suggest the need for tailored messaging strategies targeted to reach menthol smokers who will be most impacted by a ban, but also have the most to gain from such a policy change.Ethn Dis. 2018;28(3):177-186; doi:10.18865/ ed.28.3.177.

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