To use or not to use electronic cigarettes? Reasons for use, stopping use and their behavioural sequelae among Mexicans who smoke

• Published in: Tobacco control p. tc-2024-058596
• Main Authors: Gallegos Carrillo, Katia, Vidaña-Pérez, Dèsirée, Barrientos-Gutierrez, Inti, Arillo-Santillán, Edna, Cruz-Jiménez, Lizeth, Rodríguez-Bolaños, Rosibel, Thrasher, James F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 22.07.2024; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Bans; Cigarette industry; Cigarettes; Complications; Electronic cigarettes; Electronic nicotine delivery devices; Longitudinal studies; Low/Middle income country; Nicotine; Original research; Prevention; Public opinion; Smoke; Smoking; England; Mexico; United Kingdom > UK; Australia; United States > US; Electronic nicotine delivery devices; Prevention; Public opinion; Low/Middle income country
• ISSN: 0964-4563; 1468-3318; 1468-3318
• DOI: 10.1136/tc-2024-058596

IntroductionReasons for using and stopping the use of e-cigarettes and their associations with transitions in nicotine product use are relatively unknown in countries with e-cigarette bans, such as Mexico.MethodsData comes from an open cohort of people who smoke in Mexico, surveyed every 4 months from November 2018 to November 2021. Those who smoked and used e-cigarettes at time t (n=904 individuals, 1653 observations) were categorised at 4-month follow-up (t+1): (1) continued ‘dual use’, (2) exclusive smoking, (3) exclusive use of e-cigarettes or neither product. For people who formerly used e-cigarettes at time t (n=332 individuals, 372 observations), follow-up categories were: (1) continued exclusive smoking; (2) re-initiated e-cigarette use. Multinomial and logistic models regressed follow-up status (ref=status at time t) on reasons for using or stopping e-cigarette use, respectively, at time t, adjusting for covariates.ResultsThe most prevalent reasons for current e-cigarette use were ‘they were less harmful to others’ (40.5%) and ‘enjoyable’ (39.0%). Those who reported using e-cigarettes because they were less harmful to others (Adjusted Relative Risk Ratio (ARRR)=0.67), more enjoyable (ARRR=0.52), could help them to quit smoking (ARRR=0.65), or to control weight (ARRR=0.46) were less likely to return to exclusively smoking. Among people who formerly used e-cigarettes, lack of satisfaction was the primary reason for stopping e-cigarette use (32%) and those who reported this were less likely to start using e-cigarettes again at follow-up (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR)=0.58).ConclusionsSpecific reasons for using and stopping e-cigarettes predict changes in smoking and e-cigarette use, and targeting these beliefs could promote desired behaviour changes.