Understanding Factors Associated with Motivation to Quit Vaping among Vapers in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Abstract

The prevalence of vaping worldwide is showing an upward trend. This study aimed to determine the factors associated with motivation to quit vaping among vapers in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, through a cross-sectional, purposive sampling study. Respondents were required to complete a questionnaire consisting of vapers’ sociodemographic questions, habitual behavioral pattern questions, the e-Fagerström Test of Nicotine Dependence, the Glover–Nilsson Smoking Behavioral Dependence Questionnaire, perception questions, motivation to quit questions, and withdrawal symptom questions. A total of 311 vapers participated in this study. The majority of the vapers were male (84.6%), younger (18–25 years) (55.3%), and with monthly income less than RM 4000 (USD 868; 83.9%). The level of motivation to quit vaping was found to have a significant association with the perception of vaping being as satisfying as cigarette smoking (p = 0.006) and mild to very strong nicotine dependence (p = 0.001). Participants who recorded moderate and strong habitual vaping behaviors had lower odds of having high motivation to quit vaping compared to those recording slight habitual behaviors (OR = 0.279, 95%CI(0.110–0.708), p = 0.007 and OR = 0.185, 95%CI(0.052–0.654), p = 0.009, respectively). Factors associated with higher motivation to quit vaping could be explored to gain better understanding of how to increase their motivation level for future quit attempts.

Media Search Frequency, Source Credibility About e-Cigarette Health Information, and Motivation to Quit EC Among University Students in Chengdu, China

“…25,26 Finally, the results of this study showed that consistently across all models, nicotine dependence was significantly associated with a lower motivation to quit EC use. Similarly, a study among US adolescent vapers showed that those with higher nicotine dependence had lower intention to quit EC, 27 whilst another study among university students in Malaysia showed that motivation to quit EC for those with mild to high nicotine dependence compared to those with no dependence. 28 This may be because having a higher nicotine dependence makes withdrawal symptoms worse when one ceases the nicotine intake.…”

“… 28 This may be because having a higher nicotine dependence makes withdrawal symptoms worse when one ceases the nicotine intake. 27 However, the strength of its association with motivation to quit EC use was consistently attenuated when source credibility of media and trustworthiness of online media were added into the last step of the hierarchical regression model. Thus, searching for health information may be influential in increasing motivation to quit EC use in our study sample.…”