Electronic cigarette awareness and use among Chinese adults in Hong Kong

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have gained popularity rapidly worldwide. We examined the awareness and ever use of e-cigarettes, and reasons for e-cigarette use in a probability sample of adults in Hong Kong. METHODS: Cross-sectional data were collected in 2014 from Chinese adults aged 15-65 in Hong Kong (819 never smokers, 800 former cigarette smokers, 800 current cigarette smokers) via computer-assisted telephone interviews (response rate: 73.8%). Analysis was limited to a subset of 809 respondents (i.e., 357 never smokers, 269 former cigarette smokers, 183 current cigarette smokers) who were randomly selected to answer questions on e-cigarettes. Chi-square tests compared e-cigarette awareness and ever use by gender, age, education, and cigarette smoking status. Multivariable logistic regression examined the association between e-cigarette awareness and covariates. RESULTS: 75.4% of adults had heard of e-cigarettes, and 2.3% reported having used e-cigarettes. Greater awareness was associated with male gender and higher education. Ever use of e-cigarettes was more common among males (p=.03), younger adults (p=.002), and current cigarette smokers (p<.001). Common reasons for using e-cigarettes were curiosity (47.4%), the stylish product design (25.8%) and quitting smoking (13.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Awareness of e-cigarettes was widespread in Hong Kong. Despite the low rate of e-cigarette ever use, its relation with younger age and cigarette smoking is of concern. E-cigarette use should be monitored routinely. Interventions should target young adults and cigarette smokers, and address the marketing messages especially about the effect of e-cigarettes on smoking cessation. Funding: Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health Corresponding Author: Nan Jiang, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, nanjiang@ hku.hk