1
|
Yong HH, Karmakar C, Motin MA, Borland R, Cummings KM, Gravely S, Fong GT. Individual and Conjoint Factors Associated With Beliefs About the Harmfulness of Nicotine Replacement Therapies Relative to Combustible Cigarettes Among People Who Smoke: Findings From the 2020 ITC Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey. Nicotine Tob Res 2023; 25:1594-1602. [PMID: 37195899 PMCID: PMC10439491 DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntad075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This study examined individual and conjoint factors associated with beliefs about the harmfulness of nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) relative to combustible cigarettes (CCs). AIMS AND METHODS Data analyzed came from 8642 adults (≥18 years) who smoked daily/weekly and participated in the 2020 ITC Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey in Australia (n = 1213), Canada (n = 2633), England (n = 3057), and United States (n = 1739). Respondents were asked: "Compared to smoking cigarettes, how harmful do you think nicotine replacement products are?" Responses were dichotomized into "much less" versus otherwise for analysis using multivariable logistic regression models, complemented by decision-tree analysis to identify conjoint factors. RESULTS Percentages believing that NRTs are much less harmful than CCs were 29.7% (95% CI = 26.2% to 33.5%) in Australia, 27.4% (95% CI = 25.1% to 29.8%) in England, 26.4% (95% CI = 24.4% to 28.4%) in Canada, and 21.7% (95% CI = 19.2% to 24.3%) in the United States. Across all countries, believing nicotine is not at all/slightly harmful to health (aOR = 1.53-2.27), endorsing nicotine vaping products (NVPs) as less harmful than CCs (much less harmful: aOR = 7.24-14.27; somewhat less harmful: aOR = 1.97-3.23), and possessing higher knowledge of smoking harms (aOR = 1.23-1.88) were individual factors associated with increased odds of believing NRTs are much less harmful than CCs. With some country variations, these nicotine-related measures also interacted with each other and sociodemographic variables to serve as conjoint factors associated with the likelihood of accurate NRT relative harm belief. CONCLUSIONS Many people who regularly smoke cigarettes are unaware that NRTs are much less harmful than cigarettes. Additionally, beliefs about NRTs relative harmfulness appear to be influenced by both individual and conjoint factors. IMPLICATIONS This study demonstrates that despite past efforts to educate people who smoke about the harms of NRTs relative to CCs, misperceptions around the relative harmfulness of NRTs remain substantial. In all four studied countries, subgroups of people who smoke regularly who are misinformed about the relative harmfulness of NRTs, and who may be reluctant to use NRTs for smoking cessation can be reliably identified for corrective interventions based on their understanding of the harms related to nicotine, NVPs and smoking along with sociodemographic markers. The identified subgroup information can be used to prioritize and inform the development of effective interventions to specifically address the gaps in knowledge and understanding of the various subgroups identified. Our results suggest these may need to be tailored for each country.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Geoffrey T Fong
- University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
- Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Gravely S, Meng G, Hammond D, Hyland A, Michael Cummings K, Borland R, Kasza KA, Yong HH, Thompson ME, Quah ACK, Ouimet J, Martin N, O'Connor RJ, East KA, McNeill A, Boudreau C, Levy DT, Sweanor DT, Fong GT. Differences in cigarette smoking quit attempts and cessation between adults who did and did not take up nicotine vaping: Findings from the ITC four country smoking and vaping surveys. Addict Behav 2022; 132:107339. [PMID: 35605409 PMCID: PMC9202449 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION There is mixed evidence as to whether nicotine vaping products (NVPs) can help adults who smoke transition away from cigarettes. This study investigated if self-reported attempts to quit smoking and smoking cessation, over a period of either 18 or 24 months, differed between respondents who initiated nicotine vaping versus those who did not. Outcome comparisons were made between those who: (1) initiated vaping vs. those who did not; (2) initiated daily or non-daily vaping vs. those who did not; and (3) initiated daily or non-daily vaping between surveys and continued to vape at follow-up (daily or non-daily) vs. those who did not initiate vaping. METHODS This cohort study included 3516 respondents from the ITC Four Country Smoking and Vaping Surveys (Australia, Canada, England, United Sates), recruited at Wave 1 (2016) or 2 (2018) and followed up at Wave 2 (18 months) and/or 3 (2020, 24 months). Adults who smoked daily at baseline and did not have a history of regular vaping were included. Initiation of vaping was defined as beginning to vape at least monthly between surveys. Respondents indicated whether they made an attempt to quit smoking between surveys. Smoking cessation was defined as those who self-reported no longer smoking cigarettes at follow-up. RESULTS Relative to those who did not initiate vaping, initiation of any daily vaping between surveys was associated with a greater likelihood of smokers making a cigarette quit attempt (p < 0.001) and quitting smoking (p < 0.001). Among smokers who attempted to quit smoking, initiation of daily vaping was associated with a greater likelihood of being abstinent from smoking at follow-up (p = 0.001). Respondents who initiated vaping between surveys and were vaping daily at follow up were significantly more likely to have attempted to quit smoking (p < 0.001) and to have quit smoking (p < 0.001) than those who did not initiate vaping. Respondents who initiated non-daily vaping did not differ significantly from those who did not initiate vaping on any of the outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS Daily NVP use was associated with increased attempts to quit smoking and abstinence from smoking cigarettes. These findings are consistent with the concept that complete cigarette substitution may be more likely to be achieved when smokers vape nicotine daily.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Gang Meng
- Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Canada
| | - David Hammond
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Canada
| | - Andrew Hyland
- Department of Health Behavior, Division of Cancer Prevention & Population Sciences, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, USA
| | - K Michael Cummings
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, USA
| | - Ron Borland
- Melbourne Centre for Behaviour Change, School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Australia
| | - Karin A Kasza
- Department of Health Behavior, Division of Cancer Prevention & Population Sciences, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, USA
| | - Hua-Hie Yong
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Australia
| | - Mary E Thompson
- Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of Waterloo, Canada
| | - Anne C K Quah
- Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Canada
| | - Janine Ouimet
- Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Canada
| | - Nadia Martin
- Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Canada
| | - Richard J O'Connor
- Department of Health Behavior, Division of Cancer Prevention & Population Sciences, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, USA
| | - Katherine A East
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Canada; Department of Addictions, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, England
| | - Ann McNeill
- Department of Addictions, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, England; Shaping Public Health Policies to Reduce Inequalities & Harm (SPECTRUM), UK
| | - Christian Boudreau
- Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of Waterloo, Canada
| | - David T Levy
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, USA
| | | | - Geoffrey T Fong
- Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Canada; School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Canada; Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Yong HH, Gravely S, Borland R, Gartner C, Cummings KM, East K, Tagliaferri S, Elton-Marshall T, Hyland A, Bansal-Travers M, Fong GT. Do smokers' perceptions of the harmfulness of nicotine replacement therapy and nicotine vaping products as compared to cigarettes influence their use as an aid for smoking cessation? Findings from the ITC Four Country Smoking and Vaping Surveys. Nicotine Tob Res 2022; 24:1413-1421. [PMID: 35368082 PMCID: PMC9356684 DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntac087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Introduction This study examined whether smokers’ harm perceptions of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and nicotine vaping products (NVPs) relative to cigarettes predicted their subsequent use as smoking cessation aids during their last quit attempt (LQA). Aims and Methods We analyzed data from 1,315 current daily smokers (10+ cigarettes per day) who were recruited at Wave 1 (2016), and who reported making a quit attempt by Wave 2 (2018) of the International Tobacco Control Four Country Smoking and Vaping Surveys in Australia, Canada, England, and the United States. We used multinomial logistic regression models to examine prospective associations between harm perceptions of (a) NRT and (b) NVPs and their use at LQA, controlling for socio-demographic and other potential confounders. Results Smokers who perceive that (a) NRT and (b) NVPs are much less harmful than cigarettes were more likely to subsequently use the respective product as an aid than using no aid or other aids during LQA (adjusted relative risk ratio [aRRR] = 3.79, 95%CI = 2.16–6.66; and aRRR = 2.11, 95%CI = 1.29–3.45, respectively) compared to smokers who perceive these products as equally or more harmful. Additionally, those who perceive NVPs as much less harmful than cigarettes were less likely to use NRT as a quit aid (aRRR = 0.34, 95%CI = 0.20–0.60). No country variations for these associations were found. Conclusions This study found that smokers’ perceptions of the harmfulness of (a) NRT and (b) NVPs relative to cigarettes predicted the respective product use when trying to quit smoking. Corrective education targeting misperceptions of nicotine products’ relative harmfulness may facilitate their use for smoking cessation. Implications Nicotine replacement therapy and nicotine vaping products are two commonly used smoking cessation aids. This study demonstrates that misperceptions of the harms of nicotine products relative to cigarettes influence their use for smoking cessation. Believing that nicotine vaping products are much less harmful than cigarette smoking may lead some smokers to prefer these products over nicotine replacement therapy to aid smoking cessation. Education targeting misperceptions of nicotine products’ harmfulness relative to cigarettes may enable smokers to make informed choices about which are appropriate to aid smoking cessation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ron Borland
- The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Coral Gartner
- The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Katherine East
- University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.,King's College London, London, UK
| | | | | | - Andrew Hyland
- Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | | | - Geoffrey T Fong
- University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.,Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
East K, Reid JL, Burkhalter R, Wackowski OA, Thrasher JF, Tattan-Birch H, Boudreau C, Bansal-Travers M, Liber AC, McNeill A, Hammond D. Exposure to negative news stories about vaping, and harm perceptions of vaping, among youth in England, Canada, and the US before and after the outbreak of E-cigarette or Vaping-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI). Nicotine Tob Res 2022; 24:1386-1395. [PMID: 35368062 PMCID: PMC9356695 DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntac088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Little is known about the international impact of E-cigarette or Vaping-Associated Lung Injury (‘EVALI’) on youth perceptions of vaping harms. Methods Repeat cross-sectional online surveys of youth aged 16–19 years in England, Canada, and the United States before (2017, 2018), during (2019 August/September), and after (2020 February/March, 2020 August) the ‘EVALI’ outbreak (N = 63380). Logistic regressions assessed trends, country differences, and associations between exposure to negative news stories about vaping and vaping harm perceptions. Results Exposure to negative news stories increased between 2017 and February–March 2020 in England (12.6% to 34.2%), Canada (16.7% to 56.9%), and the United States (18.0% to 64.6%), accelerating during (2019) and immediately after (February–March 2020) the outbreak (p < .001) before returning to 2019 levels by August 2020. Similarly, the accurate perception that vaping is less harmful than smoking declined between 2017 and February–March 2020 in England (77.3% to 62.2%), Canada (66.3% to 43.3%), and the United States (61.3% to 34.0%), again accelerating during and immediately after the outbreak (p < .001). The perception that vaping takes less than a year to harm users’ health and worry that vaping will damage health also doubled over this period (p ≤ .001). Time trends were most pronounced in the United States. Exposure to negative news stories predicted the perception that vaping takes less than a year to harm health (Adjusted Odds Ratio = 1.55, 1.48-1.61) and worry that vaping will damage health (Adjusted Odds Ratio = 1.32, 1.18-1.48). Conclusions Between 2017 and February–March 2020, youth exposure to negative news stories, and perceptions of vaping harms, increased, and increases were exacerbated during and immediately after ‘EVALI’. Effects were seen in all countries but were most pronounced in the United States. Implications This is the first study examining changes in exposure to news stories about vaping, and perceptions of vaping harms, among youth in England, Canada, and the United States before, during, and after ‘EVALI’. Between 2017 and February–March 2020, youth exposure to negative news stories, and perceptions of vaping harms, increased, and increases were exacerbated during and immediately after ‘EVALI’. By August 2020, exposure to negative news stories returned to 2019 levels, while perceptions of harm were sustained. Exposure to negative news stories also predicted two of the three harm perception measures. Overall, findings suggest that ‘EVALI’ may have exacerbated youth’s perceptions of vaping harms internationally.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katherine East
- School of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.,National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Jessica L Reid
- School of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Robin Burkhalter
- School of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Olivia A Wackowski
- School of Public Health, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, NJ, USA
| | - James F Thrasher
- Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Harry Tattan-Birch
- Department of Behavioural Science and Health, Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London, UK
| | - Christian Boudreau
- Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Maansi Bansal-Travers
- Department of Health Behavior, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Alex C Liber
- Cancer Prevention and Control, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Ann McNeill
- National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - David Hammond
- School of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Iles IA, Gillman AS, Klein WMP, Ferrer RA, Kaufman A. Associations between absolute and relative electronic cigarette harm perceptions and information-seeking behaviours among US adult current, former and never smokers. Drug Alcohol Rev 2021; 41:356-364. [PMID: 34342384 DOI: 10.1111/dar.13368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) harm perceptions and information seeking behaviours are both important antecedents of e-cigarette use, yet the relationship between them has been rarely studied. We assessed how absolute (e-cigarettes are harmful to my health) and relative harm perceptions (e-cigarettes are more/less harmful than cigarettes) were associated with specific e-cigarette information seeking behaviours in a sample of current, former and never cigarette smokers. METHODS We used data from US adults in two cycles of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS-FDA 2015, n = 3738; 2017, n = 1736). Analyses controlled for socio-demographics, ever e-cigarette use and survey cycle. Data were analysed between January and August 2020. RESULTS Higher relative harm perceptions were associated with lower odds of having sought any information on e-cigarettes [adjusted odds ratio 0.61, 95% confidence interval (0.48, 0.84)] and on how to use e-cigarettes to quit smoking specifically [adjusted odds ratio 0.59, 95% confidence interval (0.38, 0.91)]. Smoking status did not moderate associations between absolute or relative harm perceptions and information seeking behaviours, nor was it associated with specific information seeking behaviours after adjusting for covariates. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS The risks of e-cigarettes relative to combusted cigarettes (as opposed to the absolute risks of e-cigarettes) appear to be more important in individuals' information seeking behaviours about e-cigarettes. Public health messages could ensure that all individuals understand how one's health risk would change if they exclusively used e-cigarettes, switched to e-cigarettes completely or used both products.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Irina A Iles
- Office of the Associate Director, Behavioral Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Arielle S Gillman
- Basic Biobehavioral and Psychological Sciences Branch, Behavioral Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - William M P Klein
- Office of the Associate Director, Behavioral Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Rebecca A Ferrer
- Basic Biobehavioral and Psychological Sciences Branch, Behavioral Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Annette Kaufman
- Tobacco Control Research Branch, Behavioral Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| |
Collapse
|