Table 1.
Beliefs and attitudes about e-cigarettes among physicians who were aware of e-cigarettes (n=411).
| Totally disagree % (95% CI) | Rather disagree % (95% CI) | Rather agree % (95% CI) | Totally agree % (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health effects of e-cigarette use | ||||
| E-cigarettes use is harmful for health of the user | 0.7 (0.3–2.1) | 2.7 (1.5–4.8) | 38.1 (33.6–42.9) | 58.4 (53.6–63.1) |
| E-cigarette aerosol is harmful for people in the vicinity of the users | 1.7 (0.8–3.5) | 17.9 (14.5–21.9) | 50.3 (45.4–55.1) | 30.2 (25.9–34.8) |
| E-cigarettes are less harmful than conventional cigarettes | 13.7 (10.7–17.4) | 27.2 (23.1–31.7) | 47.3 (42.5–52.2) | 11.8 (9.0–15.3) |
| E-cigarettes are carcinogenic | 0.7 (0.3–2.1) | 13.2 (10.3–16.8) | 50.6 (45.8–55.4) | 35.5 (31.0–40.2) |
| The risk of cancer is lower for the e-cigarettes than for the conventional cigarettes | 8.7 (6.4–11.9) | 27.7 (23.6–32.2) | 53.6 (48.8–58.4) | 10.0 (7.4–13.2) |
| E-cigarette use increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction and stroke | 1.0 (0.4–2.5) | 9.3 (6.9–12.5) | 53.4 (48.6–58.2) | 36.3 (31.8–41.1) |
| The risk of cardiovascular diseases is lower for the e-cigarettes than for the conventional cigarettes | 11.2 (8.5–14.6) | 32.1 (27.8–36.8) | 50.1 (45.3–54.9) | 6.6 (4.6–9.4) |
| E-cigarette use increases the risk of chronic lung diseases, including COPD | 1.0 (0.4–2.5) | 13.8 (10.8–17.5) | 50.5 (45.7–55.3) | 34.7 (30.3–39.4) |
| The risk of chronic lung diseases is lower for the e-cigarettes than for the conventional cigarettes | 10.5 (7.9–13.8) | 32.6 (28.3–37.3) | 49.4 (44.6–54.2) | 7.5 (5.4–10.5) |
| Addictive potential of e-cigarettes use | ||||
| E-cigarettes could be a „gateway” to conventional cigarettes use in the future | 1.9 (1.0–3.8) | 10.7 (8.1–14.1) | 45.7 (41.0–50.6) | 41.6 (36.9–46.4) |
| You can become addicted to the e-cigarette | 1.0 (0.4–2.5) | 1.9 (1.0–3.8) | 30.4 (26.2–35.0) | 66.7 (62.0–71.1) |
| E-cigarettes are less addictive than conventional cigarettes | 32.9 (28.5–37.6) | 46.9 (42.1–51.8) | 18.2 (14.7–22.2) | 2.0 (1.0–3.8) |
| E-cigarettes should be recommended as a smoking cessation tool | 43.3 (38.6–48.1) | 43.3 (38.6–48.1) | 11.5 (8.8–15.0) | 1.9 (1.0–3.8) |
| Smokers who do not want to quit smoking, should be offered and encouraged to use e-cigarettes | 30.8 (26.5–35.4) | 35.2 (30.7–40.0) | 30.8 (26.5–35.4) | 3.2 (1.9–5.4) |
| Smokers who failed to quit with conventional smoking cessation should be offered and encouraged to use e-cigarettes | 24.3 (20.4–28.6) | 32.0 (27.7–36.7) | 39.8 (35.2–44.6) | 3.9 (2.4–6.2) |
| I recommend the e-cigarettes to my patients smoking conventional cigarettes | 48.5 (43.7–53.4) | 38.2 (33.7–43.0) | 11.8 (9.0–15.3) | 1.5 (0.7–3.2) |
| Discussing e-cigarettes with patients may encourage them to use e-cigarettes | 15.6 (12.4–19.4) | 35.6 (31.1–40.4) | 43.9 (39.2–48.7) | 4.9 (3.2–7.4) |
| Regulation of e-cigarettes | ||||
| E-cigarette promotion and advertising should be banned | 4.2 (2.6–6.6) | 11.5 (8.8–15.0) | 29.4 (25.2–34.0) | 54.9 (50.1–59.7) |
| E-cigarettes should be prohibited to minors (under 18 years) | 2.2 (1.2–4.1) | 0.7 (0.3–2.1) | 10.5 (7.9–13.8) | 86.6 (82.9–89.6) |
| E-cigarettes use in public places should be banned | 3.6 (2.2–5.9) | 7.5 (5.4–10.5) | 22.8 (19.0–27.1) | 66.0 (61.3–70.4) |
| E-cigarettes use should be banned indoors | 3.4 (2.0–5.6) | 4.9 (3.2–7.4) | 19.4 (15.9–23.5) | 72.3 (67.8–76.4) |
| E-cigarettes should be regulated in the same way as tobacco products | 4.1 (2.6–6.5) | 7.3 (5.2–10.2) | 18.7 (15.2–22.7) | 69.9 (65.3–74.1) |