Electronic Cigarette Information Seeking: Do Smoking Status and Age Matter?

Background/Purpose

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) continue to grow in popularity as a newer form of tobacco products. Although more researchers study various aspects of e-cigs, still there is a lack of information about factors associated with e-cig information seeking can differ by smoking status. Using a national sample, this study is to examine intrapersonal and interpersonal predictors of e-cig information seeking, and examine similarities and differences in the predictors in terms of smoking status (current smokers, former smokers and never smokers) and age groups (young, middle and old).

Methods

In order to achieve our research objectives, data from the U.S. Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS-FDA-2015; N=881) were used. We used demographics (gender, race/ethnicity, age groups, household income, education level, and smoking status), intrapersonal predictors of e-cig information seeking (ever called Quitline and perception of e-cig harmfulness), and interpersonal predictors of e-cig information seeking (number of close friends who use tobacco and living with tobacco users). Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to estimate relative effects of intrapersonal and interpersonal predictors on e-cig information seeking by smoking status and age. 

Results

The results showed that, current cigarette smokers with a higher level of perception of e-cig harmfulness were less likely to seek e-cig information after controlling for demographics. Among former smokers, female gender, young age group, a greater number of close friends who use tobacco, and a lower level of perception of e-cig harmfulness positively predicted e-cig. information seeking. No significant predictors were found among never smokers. In terms of age groups, in the young age group, being current or formal smokers were more likely to seek e-cig information, those who called Quitline were more likely to seek e-cig information, and those with a higher perception of e-cig harmfulness were less likely to seek e-cig information. In the middle age group, being current smokers and former smokers, a greater number of close friends who use tobacco, and a lower level of perception of e-cig harmfulness positively predicted e-cig information seeking. Perceptions of e-cig harmfulness was the only predictor of e-cig information seeking among older adults.       

Conclusions and Implications

US adults are widely exposed to use of e-cigarettes. Our findings showed current smokers and former smokers are more likely to seek e-cig information than never smokers, and individuals at young and middle ages were more likely to seek e-cig information than older adults. E-cig information seeking is associated with both intrapersonal and interpersonal variables. Practitioners may consider intervention/prevention programs for tobacco users in terms of different age groups and smoking status.