Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco
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Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) are used to aid smoking cessation attempts; however, many smokers continue to smoke while using an ENDS (dual use). Although uncertainty remains regarding whether specific ENDS patterns hinder or support successful smoking cessation, recent advances in "smart" technology allow passive and active recording of behaviors in real time, enabling more detailed insights into how smoking and vaping patterns may coevolve. We describe patterns of ENDS initiation, and subsequent use, including any changes in cigarette consumption, among daily smokers using a "smart" ENDS (S-ENDS) to quit smoking. ⋯ The use of an S-ENDS that recorded real-time device use among daily smokers engaged in a quit attempt provides insight into patterns and trajectories of dual use (continuing to smoke while using ENDS), and the possible associations between ENDS initiation, subsequent use, and smoking cessation outcomes. Such work could support more targeted cessation counseling and technical advice for smokers using ENDS to quit smoking, reduce the risk of users developing long-term dual use patterns, and enhance the contributions ENDS may make to reducing smoking prevalence.
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Adult daily smoking prevalence in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is 2.8 times that of other Australians. There is little data on prevalence of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We measured e-cigarette use and beliefs about their harmfulness in national samples of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander smokers and of all Australian smokers. ⋯ The study describes e-cigarette use and understanding in national samples of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander smokers and of all Australian smokers. Only small studies have reported on e-cigarette use in this high smoking prevalence population. Fewer Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander smokers than all Australian smokers had tried an e-cigarette and fewer agreed that e-cigarettes are less harmful than conventional cigarettes. Australian governments, health authorities, health professionals, and e-cigarette regulations should provide clearer messages that e-cigarettes are less harmful.
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Sociodemographic differences in electronic cigarette use among cigarette smokers have not been previously characterized in the US adult population. ⋯ Results of this study show that the exclusive use of e-cigarettes is more prevalent in higher-income and White smokers. Our data suggest that higher-income and White smokers may be more likely to use e-cigarettes as a means to quit combustible cigarettes compared with low-income and racial/ethnic minority smokers. These findings suggest that sociodemographic differences in e-cigarette uptake and use patterns may contribute to widening disparities in cigarette smoking.
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Socioeconomic disparities have been established for conventional cigarette use, but not for electronic cigarettes. This study estimates socioeconomic gradients in exclusive use of conventional cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, and dual use (ie, use of both products) among adults in the United States. ⋯ Research has not yet established whether socioeconomic disparities in electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use resemble those observed for conventional cigarettes. This article uses nationally representative data on US adults aged 25-54 to estimate income and education gradients in exclusive use of conventional cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and dual use. Both gradients are steep and negative for conventional cigarette use, but flat and statistically insignificant for e-cigarette use. Repeating the analysis among ever-smokers indicates that more educated smokers are more likely to transition toward exclusive e-cigarette use than less educated smokers. Such differential substitution may exacerbate disparities in smoking-related morbidity and mortality.