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'To Vape or Not to Vape': Young Peoples Beliefs About Emerging Tobacco Products
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A6246 - 'To Vape or Not to Vape': Young Peoples Beliefs About Emerging Tobacco Products
Author Block: J. Foster1, B. Oliver2, J. Bozier2; 1Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, 2University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Introduction/Aim:
Young people are thought more likely to use electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) than adults, but their reasons for uptake and their attitudes toward e-cigarette safety and regulation are unknown. This study aimed to explore this.
Methods:
An online survey was conducted among Australians aged 18-30 years, recruited through university mailing lists and social media pages. Participants were asked questions about how they first heard of e-cigarettes, the perceived safety of e-cigarettes and the regulations surrounding e-cigarette use.
Results:
124 participants (73% Female, Mean age 21.2 (SD±2.60) years, 95.2% University students) completed the survey, of whom 27% were past/current e-cigarette users and 32% were past/current tobacco cigarette smokers. Participants most commonly reported that their first exposure to e-cigarettes was via social media (56%), friends (54%) and/or the internet (48%). Among past/present users, the most common reason for initiating e-cigarette use was curiosity (94%), friends using them (36%) and/or considering them better for health than tobacco cigarettes (27%). Indeed, 85% of all respondents thought nicotine e-cigarettes had lower health risk than tobacco cigarettes and only half (55%) thought nicotine e-cigarettes could cause similar damage to their lungs. Moreover 53% of participants thought cannabis and 57% thought fast food carried less risk than nicotine e-cigarettes. More respondents agreed nicotine e-cigarettes are bad for your health than non-nicotine e-cigarettes (76% vs 33%). A number of respondents thought e-cigarettes could be used in places where they are currently banned in Australia, such as outdoor dining areas (24%).
Conclusion:
Many young people consider e-cigarettes comparatively safe, with lower health risks than smoking, cannabis or fast food. They consider non-nicotine e-cigarettes safer than nicotine e-cigarettes, though current evidence contradicts this. The lack of understanding of potential health risks indicates the poor public health communication and confusion around e-cigarettes which must be urgently addressed.
Grant Support:
None
Author Block: J. Foster1, B. Oliver2, J. Bozier2; 1Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, 2University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Introduction/Aim:
Young people are thought more likely to use electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) than adults, but their reasons for uptake and their attitudes toward e-cigarette safety and regulation are unknown. This study aimed to explore this.
Methods:
An online survey was conducted among Australians aged 18-30 years, recruited through university mailing lists and social media pages. Participants were asked questions about how they first heard of e-cigarettes, the perceived safety of e-cigarettes and the regulations surrounding e-cigarette use.
Results:
124 participants (73% Female, Mean age 21.2 (SD±2.60) years, 95.2% University students) completed the survey, of whom 27% were past/current e-cigarette users and 32% were past/current tobacco cigarette smokers. Participants most commonly reported that their first exposure to e-cigarettes was via social media (56%), friends (54%) and/or the internet (48%). Among past/present users, the most common reason for initiating e-cigarette use was curiosity (94%), friends using them (36%) and/or considering them better for health than tobacco cigarettes (27%). Indeed, 85% of all respondents thought nicotine e-cigarettes had lower health risk than tobacco cigarettes and only half (55%) thought nicotine e-cigarettes could cause similar damage to their lungs. Moreover 53% of participants thought cannabis and 57% thought fast food carried less risk than nicotine e-cigarettes. More respondents agreed nicotine e-cigarettes are bad for your health than non-nicotine e-cigarettes (76% vs 33%). A number of respondents thought e-cigarettes could be used in places where they are currently banned in Australia, such as outdoor dining areas (24%).
Conclusion:
Many young people consider e-cigarettes comparatively safe, with lower health risks than smoking, cannabis or fast food. They consider non-nicotine e-cigarettes safer than nicotine e-cigarettes, though current evidence contradicts this. The lack of understanding of potential health risks indicates the poor public health communication and confusion around e-cigarettes which must be urgently addressed.
Grant Support:
None
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