Do Current Smokers and Ex-Smokers Who Use Nicotine Vaping Products Daily Versus Weekly Differ on Their Reasons for Vaping? Findings from the 2020 ITC Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey

Abstract

This study examined reasons why adults who currently smoke or formerly smoked cigarettes use nicotine vaping products (NVPs) by vaping frequency (daily vs. weekly) stratified by smoking status. This cross-sectional study included 3070 adults from the 2020 ITC Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey (Australia, Canada, England, United States) who reported using a NVP (vaping) at least weekly and who either currently smoke (n = 2467) or formerly smoked (n = 603). Respondents were asked to select the reason(s) they use NVPs, including to manage their smoking (reduce/quit or remain quit) and/or for reasons unrelated to managing smoking (e.g., to save money, enjoyment, flavours). We found that both current and former smokers endorsed an average of six reasons for vaping, with those vaping daily reporting significantly more reasons than those vaping weekly. Among current smokers, 72.8% reported vaping may help them quit smoking, 13.0% reported vaping to reduce smoking but not to quit, and 14.2% reported vaping only for reasons other than to reduce or quit smoking. The most common reason for vaping among current smokers was to reduce smoking (81.3%). Current smokers vaping daily were significantly more likely than those vaping weekly to report using a NVP to reduce smoking, for enjoyment, to reduce harm to themselves and others, to quit smoking, likeable flavours, and to save money. The most common reason cited for vaping by respondents who formerly smoked was enjoyment, with those who vaped daily more likely than those who vaped weekly to report vaping for enjoyment and to reduce harm to themselves. Nearly all reported vaping to help stay abstinent from smoking (92.3%), with no significant difference by vaping frequency. In conclusion, a majority of respondents reported using NVPs to manage their smoking (reduce/quit smoking or remain quit), particularly those vaping daily. Those who were vaping daily also endorsed a greater number of reasons other than managing smoking relative to those who were vaping weekly.

Future nicotine use preferences of current cigarette smokers: Findings from the 2020 International Tobacco Control Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey

“…This assumes that any smokers newly attracted to vaping would share the same interests in quitting as those who already have some experience. Consistent with the argument that use of vaping might be a conduit to increased interest in quitting [39], we found that preferring use of an ANP to complete cessation was associated with similar factors to interest in quitting overall, in particular increased exposure to vaping and more positive attitudes to it. However, having urges to smoke was also predictive of preferring to switch products, suggesting some smokers may expect an alternative form of nicotine to help reduce cravings while quitting smoking.…”

Examining acute psychopharmacological effects of nicotine vaping versus heated tobacco products in a randomised crossover study of product naïve adult smokers

“…Interestingly, a few participants who reported no intention to quit smoking in the next 3 months (based on the MTSS scale), reported that they were somewhat likely/very likely switching to NVPs and HTPs (22.2% and 20.0% respectively), which may indicate that these products could substitute cigarette smoking in smokers unmotivated to quit and contribute to harm reduction. Similar to previous research among cigarette smokers, we found that the most important reasons for switching to NVPs/HTPs were satisfaction, to reduce harm to themselves and others, to reduce smoking, and to help them stop smoking 53 , 54 . Current prevalence of adult NVP and HTP use in England is 9.3% and 0.2% respectively, though our sample showed similar levels of intention to switch to either product after trying them.…”

“…Similar findings regarding NVPs safety were observed in a cohort study in Canada 58 , and it has been suggested that after the US outbreak of vaping-associated lung injury 59 , views on NVPs among smokers deteriorated and many smokers perceiving NVPs at least as harmful to health as cigarettes 60 , 61 . Likewise, studies examining perceptions of harmfulness of HTPs compared to cigarettes suggest that a fair number of smokers considered them to be equally as harmful as cigarettes or they do not know 53 , 62 .…”

Reasons for Initiation and Regular Use of Heated Tobacco Products among Current and Former Smokers in South Korea: Findings from the 2020 ITC Korea Survey

“…Next, among HTP-cigarette consumers who answered both reasons 23 and 24 (n = 1767) in Table 1 , a three-category quit–reduce composite measure of their intentions for using HTPs as per Yong et al [ 25 ] and Gravely et al [ 26 ] to evaluate NVP-use reasons, was derived and coded as: (1) those who selected quitting smoking as a reason for HTP use; (2) those who selected using a HTP to reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke but did not select quitting smoking; or (3) those who did not select reducing the number of cigarettes they smoke or quitting smoking (selected other reasons only).…”