Electronic Cigarette Usage Patterns and Perceptions in Adult Australians

Despite their increasing popularity, and Australia's unique regulatory environment, how and why Australian adults use e-cigarettes and their perceptions of their safety, efficacy and regulation have not been extensively reported before. In this study, we screened 2217 adult Australians with the aim of assessing these questions in a sample of current or former e-cigarette users. A total of 505 out of 2217 respondents were current or former e-cigarette users, with only these respondents completing the full survey. Key findings of this survey included the high proportion of respondents who indicated they were currently using e-cigarettes (307 out of 2217 = 13.8%), and the high proportion of current e-cigarette users that were also smokers (74.6%). The majority of respondents used e-liquids containing nicotine (70.3%), despite it being illegal in Australia without a prescription, and the majority bought their devices and liquids in Australia (65.7%). Respondents reported using e-cigarettes in a variety of places, including inside the home, inside public places (where it is illegal to smoke tobacco cigarettes), and around other people-which has implications for second and third hand exposures. A significant proportion of current e-cigarette users (30.6%) thought that e-cigarettes were completely safe to use long-term, although in general, there was a large amount of uncertainty/ambivalence with respect to perceptions of e-cigarette safety and efficacy as smoking cessation tools. This study shows that e-cigarette use is common in Australia, and that appropriate dissemination of unbiased research findings on their safety and efficacy in smoking cessation is urgently required.

Predictors and reasons for quitting smoking in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

ISSUE ADDRESSED

National smoking prevalence is decreasing among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. In remote areas, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander smoking prevalence remains higher than in nonremote areas and is not improving.

METHODS

We analysed data from 539 daily and weekly smokers from remote areas who completed baseline surveys at either Wave 1 (April 2012-October 2013) or Wave 2 (August 2013-August 2014), including 157 from Wave 1 who also completed Wave 2, from the Talking About The Smokes project. We assessed associations between baseline predictor measures and having made any quit attempt in the past year and, among those who did, having sustained the last quit attempt for one month or more.

RESULTS

More smokers had made a quit attempt if they were younger or reported being unable to buy essentials due to money spent on smokes, being more stressed, having several pro-quitting motivations and attitudes, having an effective smoke-free home, or being encouraged to quit by a health professional or by family/friends. Of these, more had sustained their last quit attempt for one month or more if they reported being more socially advantaged, no smoking-induced deprivation, being less dependent, chewing pituri or an having effective smoke-free home.

CONCLUSIONS

Health staff should consider the quite different factors associated with starting and then sustaining a quit attempt. SO WHAT?: Our findings support continued attention in remote areas on smoke-free homes and health staff providing regular encouragement to all smokers to quit and more use of smokers' friends and family for support.

Smoking cessation advice and quit attempts in South Africa between 2007 and 2017: A cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to determine trends in receiving quit advice from healthcare professionals among current smokers in South Africa, pre- and post-adoption of Article 14 guidelines of the WHO FCTC in 2010, and to determine the association between quit advice, e-cigarette use and quit attempt.

METHODS

This study was a secondary data analysis involving 2206 ever-smokers aged ≥16 years who participated in the South African Social Attitude Surveys conducted in 2007, 2010 and 2017. Data included participants' sociodemographics, tobacco, and/or e-cigarette use (for years 2010 and 2017 only), exposure to others' smoking at home and/or work or public places, quit advice, and quit attempts. Analyses included chi-squared test and logistic regression.

RESULTS

The mean cigarettes smoked per day, the proportions of smokers offered quit advice, planning to quit and who made a quit attempt did not change significantly between 2007 and 2017 (p=0.67, p=0.70, p=0.09 and p=0.40, respectively). However, there was a marginally significant increase in e-cigarette uptake between 2010 and 2017 (p=0.05). In a bivariate analysis, quit advice was significantly associated with making a quit attempt across all survey years. In the final multivariable-adjusted regression model, having received a quit advice (OR=1.967; 95% CI: 1.255-3.083) compared to not, and being Colored/mixed race (OR=0.467; 95% CI: 0.298-0.732) compared to self-identifying as Black African, remained independently associated with making a quit attempt.

CONCLUSIONS

Except for marginally increased e-cigarette use, there was no significant change in smoking or quitting behavior in South Africa post-adoption of Article 14 guidelines. The study findings highlight the importance of quit advice in promoting quitting behavior and suggest the need to scale it up in South Africa.

What should every dental health professional know about electronic cigarettes?

Electronic cigarettes (E-cigarettes) have become increasingly popular around the world. Currently, dental professionals' knowledge and attitudes are varied with many clinicians unclear regarding the impact of E-cigarette products on the oral and general health of their patients. With developing social and health-related challenges, advice of dental and medical associations and other regulatory bodies on E-cigarette use is changing. Growing evidence demonstrating the risks of E-cigarette usage has prompted a review of legislation in the United Kingdom (UK), United States of America (USA), Australia and Canada to include the sale and availability of E-cigarettes, particularly those containing nicotine. Further consideration within the scientific and public health community is being given to assessing demographic usage patterns particularly uptake by non-smokers and adolescents, efficacy as a cessation tool, the impact of vapour on bystanders and direct injuries via explosions as well as emerging lung injuries. This article aims to provide a summary of the most up to date evidence relating to E-cigarette use, the latest position of dental associations and the oral health implications of E-cigarettes compared to conventional smoking. The article also aims to collate this information in order to provide dental clinicians with guidance on how to advise patients, specifically in answering common questions posed regarding E-cigarette use.

Correlates of electronic cigarette use in the general population and among smokers in Australia - Findings from a nationally representative survey

AIMS

In Australia, sales of nicotine containing electronic cigarettes (also known as e-cigarette) are banned unless approved as a therapeutic good. The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of e-cigarette use and its correlates in Australia using a nationally representative survey.

METHOD

We analysed data from the largest drug use survey in Australia (the National Drug Strategy Household Survey [NDSHS]; N = 22,354).

RESULTS

We estimated that 227,000 Australians (1.2% of the population) were current e-cigarettes users, and 97,000 (0.5%) used them daily. Individuals who were male, younger, had higher level of psychological distress, and smoked were more likely to use electronic cigarettes. Among smokers, an intention to quit and reduction in smoking was associated with experimentation and daily use of e-cigarette, but not with occasional use. Recent quitting was associated with daily use.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the prevalence of e-cigarette use was low in 2016 in Australia. Smoking status was the strongest correlates of e-cigarette use. Patterns of vaping were differentialy associated with an intention to quit smoking, smoking reduction and recent quitting. Some smokers may attempt to use e-cigarettes to cut-down their tobacco use, and those who vaped daily were mostly likely to be recent quitters.