TY - JOUR
T1 - Elucidating challenges that electronic cigarettes pose to tobacco control in Asia
T2 - A population-based national survey in Taiwan
AU - Chang, Hui Chin
AU - Tsai, Yi Wen
AU - Shiu, Ming Neng
AU - Wang, Ying Ting
AU - Chang, Po Yin
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017, BMJ Publishing Group. All rights reserved.
PY - 2017/3/1
Y1 - 2017/3/1
N2 - Objectives: This study investigated the prevalence and correlates of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) use in Taiwan. Design and setting: We studied a nationally representative random sample in the 2015 Taiwan Adult Smoking Behavior Survey. Participants: This study included 26 021 participants aged 15 years or older (51% women, 79% non-smokers, 16% aged 15-24 years), after excluding 31 persons (0.1%) who had missing information on e-cigarette use. Primary outcome measures: The prevalence of ever having used e-cigarettes was calculated in the overall sample and by smoking status (current, former and never) or age (15-24, 25-44 and ≥45 years). We performed multivariable log-binomial regression to assess correlates of ever having used e-cigarettes among all participants and separately for subgroups by smoking status and age. Results: Approximately 3% of all participants had ever used e-cigarettes. The prevalence of ever having used e-cigarettes was high in current smokers (14%) and people aged 18-24 years (7%). E-cigarette use was particularly common in people aged 15-24 years who were current (49-52%) or former (22-39%) smokers. Ever having used e-cigarettes was positively associated with tobacco smoking (adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR): 21.5, 95% CI 15.4 to 29.8, current smokers; aPR: 8.3, 95% CI 15.2 to 13.1, former smokers), younger age and high socioeconomic status. Age remained a significant factor of ever having used e-cigarettes across smoking status groups. Among non-smokers, men had a 2.4-fold (95% CI 1.5 to 3.8) greater prevalence of e-cigarette use than women. Conclusions: E-cigarette use was uncommon in the general population in Taiwan, but prevalence was high among smokers and young people. This study highlights challenges that e-cigarettes pose to tobacco control, which warrant high priority action by policymakers and public health professionals. E-cigarette regulations should focus on young people.
AB - Objectives: This study investigated the prevalence and correlates of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) use in Taiwan. Design and setting: We studied a nationally representative random sample in the 2015 Taiwan Adult Smoking Behavior Survey. Participants: This study included 26 021 participants aged 15 years or older (51% women, 79% non-smokers, 16% aged 15-24 years), after excluding 31 persons (0.1%) who had missing information on e-cigarette use. Primary outcome measures: The prevalence of ever having used e-cigarettes was calculated in the overall sample and by smoking status (current, former and never) or age (15-24, 25-44 and ≥45 years). We performed multivariable log-binomial regression to assess correlates of ever having used e-cigarettes among all participants and separately for subgroups by smoking status and age. Results: Approximately 3% of all participants had ever used e-cigarettes. The prevalence of ever having used e-cigarettes was high in current smokers (14%) and people aged 18-24 years (7%). E-cigarette use was particularly common in people aged 15-24 years who were current (49-52%) or former (22-39%) smokers. Ever having used e-cigarettes was positively associated with tobacco smoking (adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR): 21.5, 95% CI 15.4 to 29.8, current smokers; aPR: 8.3, 95% CI 15.2 to 13.1, former smokers), younger age and high socioeconomic status. Age remained a significant factor of ever having used e-cigarettes across smoking status groups. Among non-smokers, men had a 2.4-fold (95% CI 1.5 to 3.8) greater prevalence of e-cigarette use than women. Conclusions: E-cigarette use was uncommon in the general population in Taiwan, but prevalence was high among smokers and young people. This study highlights challenges that e-cigarettes pose to tobacco control, which warrant high priority action by policymakers and public health professionals. E-cigarette regulations should focus on young people.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85016294716&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-014263
DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-014263
M3 - Article
C2 - 28348191
AN - SCOPUS:85016294716
SN - 2044-6055
VL - 7
JO - BMJ Open
JF - BMJ Open
IS - 3
M1 - e014263
ER -
