Hospitalized smokers' expectancies for electronic cigarettes versus tobacco cigarettes

Abstract

Introduction To compare hospitalized smokers’ expectancies for electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) against their expectancies for tobacco cigarettes and evaluate relationships between e-cigarette expectancies and intention to use e-cigarettes. Methods Analysis of baseline data from a one-year longitudinal observational study. The setting was a tertiary care academic center hospital in the Southeastern U.S. Participants were 958 hospitalized tobacco cigarette smokers. A questionnaire of e-cigarette expectancies based on the Brief Smoking Consequences Questionnaire-Adult (BSCQ-A) was developed and administered along with the original, tobacco-specific, BSCQ-A. Intention to use e-cigarettes was assessed with a single 10-point Likert scale item. Results Participants reported significantly weaker expectancies for e-cigarettes relative to tobacco cigarettes on all 10 BSCQ-A scales. Participants held sizably weaker expectancies for the health risks of e-cigarettes (p < .001, Cohen's d = −2.07) as well as the ability of e-cigarettes to relieve negative affect (p < .001, Cohen's d = −1.01), satisfy the desire for nicotine (p < .001, Cohen's d = −.83), and taste pleasant (p < .001, Cohen's d = −.73). Among the strongest predictors of intention to use e-cigarettes were greater expectancies that e-cigarettes taste pleasant (p < .001, adjusted β = .34), relieve negative affect (p < .001, adjusted β = .32), and satisfy the desire for nicotine (p < .001, adjusted β = .31). Conclusions Hospitalizedtobacco smokers expect fewer negative and positive outcomes from e-cigarettes versus tobacco cigarettes. This suggests that e-cigarettes might be viable though imperfect substitutes for tobacco cigarettes.

Are e-cigarettes a gateway to smoking or a pathway to quitting?

“…Hospitalised tobacco smokers expect fewer negative and positive outcomes from e-cigs versus conventional cigarettes, which suggests that e-cigs might be a viable, though imperfect, substitute to conventional cigarettes. 38 Vapers stated that e-cigs are popular because they are accessible, healthier than conventional cigarettes and more aesthetically pleasing, 33,39 but had some concerns about the possible toxicity and the future legal status of the devices. 40…”

Electronic Cigarettes: Vulnerability of Youth

“…15 Marketing of e-cigarettes has been directed at the young adults and children according to the United States Food and Drug Administration documents. 2 Electronic cigarette manufacturers advertise heavily through social networking systems and avoid using the word cigarette because of its negative connotations. Teenagers may deny using electronic cigarettes, but vape, for example, on a nicotine-containing, flavored hookah pen.…”

“…By 2007, electronic cigarettes had reached Europe and North America, and sales soon skyrocketed. 2 In 2009, only 16% of Americans were aware of electronic cigarettes, but by 2010, 32% were aware of them.…”

Electronic Cigarette Use Among Counseled Tobacco Users Hospitalized in 2015

“…In 1 study conducted in Birmingham, Alabama in 2012–2013, hospitalized smokers reported that they expected e-cigarettes to be less effective at relieving negative affect and satisfying nicotine cravings and that the taste would not be as pleasant as combustible cigarettes (Hendricks et al, 2015). Rigotti and colleagues (2015) examined past 30-day e-cigarette use among 4660 smokers enrolled in a consortium of hospital-based cessation trials (CHART) from 2010 to 2013.…”

“…Other studies included patients who agreed to participate in a research study (eg, Harrington et al, 2014; Baumann et al, 2015) or excluded tobacco-using patients who had never heard of e-cigarettes (eg, Hendricks et al, 2015). Consequently, these results may not generalize to all hospitalized smokers.…”