Smoke and Vapor: Exploring the Terminology Landscape among Electronic Cigarette Users

Abstract

Objective We explored the terminology of adult e-cigarette users in describing e-cigarette products and their use. We report how users discuss and differentiate these products and the language and culture surrounding them. Methods Focus groups (N = 12) were held in 5 locations in the United States between March and May, 2014. Participants (N = 99) included young adults or adults who were either exclusive or nonexclusive e-cigarette users. We gathered data on how users identify various types of e-cigarettes and how users understand and describe specific terms. Results Participants were familiar with the attributes of e-cigarettes in general but confused by the variety of products and unable to describe differences between product types. They were familiar with the term “vaping” even when they used “smoking” more frequently, and were clear that e-cigarettes do not produce traditional cigarette smoke. They had varied opinions about what to call regular users of e-cigarettes. Conclusions Findings highlight that conceptual clarity, including using specific and familiar terminology and product descriptions for users and nonusers alike, is challenging and crucial. It is important that surveillance efforts, policy development, messaging, and future research reflect the language understood and used by consumers to enable widespread comprehension.

Do you vape? Leveraging electronic health records to assess clinician documentation of electronic nicotine delivery system use among adolescents and adults

“…Adolescent and young adult records were more likely to include the words “vape” and “pen”, and less likely to include the words “e-cig” and “electronic cigarette” than adult records. Findings are consistent with recent qualitative data on ENDS suggesting that young adults are more likely than adults to correctly use the term “vapor” rather than smoke, perhaps reflecting targeted advertising to this population (Alexander et al, 2016). Moreover, recent evidence from ENDS “Google searches” in the US indicates that searches are shifting from e-cigarette to vaping-focused terms (Ayers et al, 2016).…”

“…Our study, with its qualitative text analysis, highlights the need for EHR screening questions to be age-appropriate and reflect the current terminology used by consumers (Alexander et al, 2016). Adolescent and young adult records were more likely to include the words “vape” and “pen”, and less likely to include the words “e-cig” and “electronic cigarette” than adult records.…”

“…Qualitative research has demonstrated differences in ENDS terminology by consumer age group and product type, suggesting that screening questions should reflect the range of terms used by patients (Alexander et al, 2016). These challenges currently limit the ability of healthcare systems to systematically screen for, detect, and monitor this key emerging health behavior.…”

Type of E-Cigarette Device Used Among Adolescents and Young Adults: Findings From a Pooled Analysis of Eight Studies of 2166 Vapers

“…As the first report of the prevalence of e-cigarette device types used among adolescents and young adults, this study provides new evidence that the majority of young vapers use later generation devices. Although there was variation in terminology 21 to identify the products on surveys, use of later generation devices was more common in all studies. Predominant use of disposable/cigalike devices was relatively rare among the adolescents and young adults surveyed in the eight studies included in this report.…”

Vapes, E-cigs, and Mods: What Do Young Adults Call E-cigarettes?

“…1 This variety has presented a challenge to surveillance surveys because of the nonstandard terminology used to describe these devices. 2 Most US national surveillance surveys (eg, National Adult Tobacco Survey, National Youth Tobacco Survey, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Monitoring the Future) treat e-cigs as a single product type; however, this obscures the behavioral and health consequences of using different e-cig device types. 3,4 The Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study employs images in its assessment of e-cig use, but the effectiveness of these images correctly capturing e-cig use has not been published.…”