Youth Perception of Harm and Use of Electronic Cigarettes

Background. From 2011 to 2012, youth initiation of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) increased from 0.6% to 1.1% in middle school and from 1.5% to 2.8% among high school students. While risk factors for use of traditional cigarettes are well established, little is known about the factors associated with use of e-cigarettes.

Methods. Data from the 2012 National Youth Tobacco Survey was obtained to assess self-reported use and perception of harm of e cigarettes. Multivariate logistic regression models were employed regressing past 30 day use and lifetime use as the covariate factors including demographic characteristics, familial factors, and perceptions of harm concerning e-cigarettes.  Odds ratio’s and 95% confidence intervals were calculated.  Data were analyzed using STATA MP/11.

Results. Those who perceived e-cigarettes as equally harmful as regular cigarettes had a lower odds of past 30 day use of e-cigarettes than those who found them less harmful than regular cigarettes (OR = .45, 95% CI: .25-.80). Similar findings were found for lifetime use (OR = .30, 95% CI: .25-.36).  Select demographic and household factors were also found to be significantly associated with the use of e-cigarettes.

Conclusion. Without conclusive evidence regarding the safety of e-cigarettes, it is unclear if they are more are less harmful than regular cigarettes; however, e-cigarette companies continue to make claims that they are safer than smoking a regular cigarette. These claims may be influencing the perception of harm of e-cigarettes among youth, and will be discussed.