Table 2.
Patterns of use, beliefs and attitudes towards e-cigarettes.
| All (n=179) % (95% CI) |
Smoking status on the day of starting e-cigarette use | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoker (n=154) % (95% CI) |
Nonsmoker (n=25) % (95% CI) |
||
| How long have you been using e-cigarettes? | |||
| Less than one month | 46 (38, 54) | 47 (38, 55) | 40 (20, 60)* |
| 1–6 months | 40 (33, 48) | 40 (32, 48) | 44 (24, 64) |
| 6–12 months | 12 (7, 17) | 11 (6, 16) | 16 (2, 31) |
| Longer than one year | 2 (0, 5) | 2 (0, 4) | 0 (0, 14) |
| Use e-cigarettes every day | 98 (95, 100) | 99 (96, 100) | 96 (88, 100)* |
| How many times a day do you use e-cigarettes? | |||
| Less than 5 times | 4 (1, 7) | 4 (1, 7) | 4 (0, 14)* |
| 6–15 times | 29 (22, 36) | 28 (20, 35) | 36 (17, 55) |
| 16–25 times | 27 (20, 34) | 28 (20, 35) | 20 (4, 36) |
| More than 25 times | 40 (33, 48) | 40 (32, 48) | 40 (20, 60) |
| How soon after waking up do you reach for an e-cigarette? | |||
| Within 30 minutes | 44 (36, 52) | 44 (36, 52) | 40 (20, 60)* |
| After 30 minutes | 56 (48, 64) | 56 (48, 64) | 60 (40, 80) |
| Do you use e-cigarettes more during the first few hours after waking up than during the rest of the day? | |||
| During the first few hours after waking up | 34 (27, 41) | 34 (26, 42) | 36 (17, 55)* |
| During the rest of the day | 66 (58, 73) | 66 (58, 74) | 64 (45, 83) |
| What is the level of nicotine in a single cartridge that you usually use? | |||
| Zero (0 mg) | 3 (0, 6) | 2 (0, 5) | 8 (0, 19)* |
| Low (>8 mg) | 8 (3, 12) | 6 (2, 10) | 16 (2, 31) |
| Medium (8–16 mg) | 41 (33, 48) | 41 (33, 49) | 44 (24, 64) |
| High (>16 mg) | 25 (18, 32) | 26 (19, 33) | 20 (4, 36) |
| Cartridge filled by user with e-liquid | 23 (16, 29) | 25 (18, 33) | 12 (1, 25) |
| Do you smoke regular cigarettes? | |||
| Yes, everyday | 12 (7, 17) | 14 (8, 20) | 0 (0, 14)* |
| Yes, every 2–3 days | 5 (1, 9) | 6 (2, 10) | 4 (0, 12) |
| Yes, once per week | 12 (7, 17) | 12 (6, 17) | 8 (0, 19) |
| Yes, but less often than once per week | 5 (1, 9) | 4 (0, 7) | 8 (0, 19) |
| No | 66 (58, 73) | 64 (56, 72) | 80 (64, 96) |
| How many regular cigarettes do you usually smoke during the days when you do smoke? | |||
| I don’t smoke cigarettes | 66 (58, 73) | 64 (56, 72) | 80 (64, 96)* |
| Less than 5 | 25 (18, 32) | 27 (20, 35) | 8 (0, 19) |
| 5–10 | 4 (1, 7) | 4 (0, 7) | 4 (0, 12) |
| 11–20 | 3 (0, 6) | 3 (0, 6) | 4 (0, 12) |
| More than 20 | 2 (0, 5) | 2 (0, 4) | 4 (0, 12) |
| Do you use any nicotine products in addition to cigarettes or e-cigarettes? | |||
| No | 94 (90, 98) | 94 (90, 98) | 100 (86, 100)* |
| Waterpipe (hookah) | 3 (0, 6) | 4 (0, 7) | 0 (0, 14) |
| Snuff | 1 (0, 3) | 1 (0, 3) | 0 (0, 14) |
| Others | 2 (0, 5) | 1 (0, 3) | 0 (0, 14) |
| What was the reason you tried an e-cigarette for the first time? | |||
| To quit smoking regular cigarettes | 41 (33, 48) | 47 (38, 55) | n/aa |
| To try a safer alternative for cigarettes | 41 (33, 48) | 41 (33, 49) | 40 (20, 60)* |
| To try something new | 4 (1, 7) | 4 (0, 7) | 8 (0, 19) |
| Otherb | 14 (8, 19) | 8 (3, 12) | 52 (32, 72) |
| Do you think that e-cigarettes are safe for your health? | |||
| Yes, they are absolutely safe | 15 (9, 21) | 15 (9, 21) | 16 (2, 31)* |
| No, but they are less dangerous than cigarettes | 82 (76, 88) | 83 (77, 89) | 72 (54, 90) |
| No, they are as dangerous as cigarettes | 1 (0, 3) | 1 (0, 4) | 4 (0, 12) |
| No, they are more dangerous than cigarettes | 2 (0, 5) | 1 (0, 4) | 8 (0, 19) |
| Do you think that e-cigarettes are addictive? | |||
| Yes, as addictive as cigarettes | 33 (26, 40) | 35 (27, 43) | 20 (4, 36)* |
| Yes, but less addictive than cigarettes | 60 (52, 67) | 58 (49, 66) | 72 (54, 90) |
| No, they are not addictive | 7 (3, 11) | 7 (3, 12) | 8 (0, 19) |
| Do you think you are addicted to e-cigarettes? | |||
| Yes | 54 (46, 62) | 52 (44, 60) | 64 (45, 83)* |
| No | 46 (38, 54) | 48 (40, 56) | 36 (17, 55) |
| In your opinion, should e-cigarettes be regulated by government agencies and sold only in pharmacies like other drugs that contain nicotine (patch, gum, lozenge)? | |||
| Yes | 26 (19, 33) | 27 (20, 35) | 16 (1, 31)* |
| No | 74 (67, 81) | 73 (65, 80) | 84 (69, 99) |
*
P > 0.05.
a
Option not available to those not smoking at the time of starting e--cigarette use.
b
Explanations included: e-cigarettes are cheaper; can be used in smoke-free venues; do not stink; do not affect people around me. CI, confidence interval.