Electronic Cigarettes or Vaping: Are There Any Differences in the Profiles, Use and Perceptions between a Developed and a Developing Country?

Abstract

The use of electronic cigarettes or vaping is currently increasing in popularity globally. Debate continues regarding their potential role for smoking cessation. We aimed to compare the profiles, use and perceptions of using e-cigarettes amongst online forum users in a developed and a developing country. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among members of different popular online forums in Australia and Bangladesh who were current or ex-users of e-cigarettes. There were 422 study participants, 261 (62%) from Australia and 161 (38%) from Bangladesh. The mean age was 36.3 (±12) years and 83% were men. Australians were more likely to be exclusive users of e-cigarettes (70% vs. 30%, AOR 3.05 [95% CI 1.63–5.71]), but less likely to be dual users of smoking and e-cigarettes (43% vs. 57%, 0.36 [0.19–0.69]); they were also more likely to mention that the perceived reasons for using were their low cost, good taste/flavour, safety and assistance in reducing or quitting smoking (66% vs. 34%, 5.10 [2.04–12.8]), but less likely to mention a social/cool image as a reason for use (23% vs. 77%, 0.11 [0.01–0.87]) compared with Bangladeshi participants. About two-thirds of the participants in both countries perceived the use of e-cigarettes as less addictive than cigarettes and more than three-quarters perceived them as less harmful. E-cigarette users in Australia were more likely to use them to reduce or quit cigarettes compared with those in Bangladesh, and dual use was common in Bangladesh. These findings warrant the consideration of precautions for promoting e-cigarettes as a harm reduction strategy for smoking cessation in developing countries, such as Bangladesh.

Effect of Advertisement, Promotion, and Sponsorship on E-cigarette Consumption among the Young Adults in Bangladesh

“…Approximately 95% of all vaping hardware is made in a single China city (Jin & Jiang, 2017). Bangladesh has no explicit legal direction, especially about e-cigarettes and their advertisement, promotion, and sponsorship (APS) (Rahman et al, 2022). However, the government is preparing to amend the existing Tobacco Products (Control) Act, banning e-cigarettes and other related changes (The Business Standard, 2022).…”

Nicotine Dependency Levels Among Adult Electronic Cigarette Smokers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study

“…There are several primary reasons why people use them, including their potential as a smoking cessation tool and their ability to reduce cigarette consumption. This may be because the speed at which nicotine is transmitted to the brain is less rapid compared to traditional cigarettes [3,4], helping in combating tobacco cravings and decreasing harm by substituting regular cigarettes. Finally, vaping is often viewed as a cheaper alternative to traditional cigarettes [4].…”

“…This may be because the speed at which nicotine is transmitted to the brain is less rapid compared to traditional cigarettes [3,4], helping in combating tobacco cravings and decreasing harm by substituting regular cigarettes. Finally, vaping is often viewed as a cheaper alternative to traditional cigarettes [4].…”

The Effect of Cigarette Smoke Exposure Time Difference on the Histopathological Images of Mice Lungs (Mus musculus)

“…An electric cigarette is a product that releases a nicotine-containing aerosol (usually called a vapor) to the user by heating a liquid consisting of propylene glycol or glycerol (glycerin), nicotine, and a flavoring agent (1,2). Electric cigarettes are used as a substitute or transition from conventional cigarettes in an attempt to quit smoking (3,4).…”

“…The workings of electric cigarettes differ from conventional cigarettes which are inhaled by burning; electric cigarettes vaporize the liquid in the apparatus so that the outflow is smoke evaporated and not burned by fire (1,4); therefore, electric cigarettes are also often called 'vapor/ vape', while the electrical smoking activity is called 'vaping' (3,5). Many say that vaping is not smoking.…”