Key result
Ever use of e-cigarettes among Chinese adolescents was associated with increased odds of trying to quit smoking conventional cigarettes compared to never users (OR 1.60).
Why the study?
Does e-cigarette use improve smoking abstinence behavior in adolescents aged 12 to 18 in China?
Cross-Sectional (n=2,042)
Does e-cigarette use improve smoking abstinence behavior in adolescents aged 12 to 18 in China?
Odds Ratio: 1.6
E-cigarette use is highly prevalent among Chinese adolescents and is associated with increased attempts to quit smoking, though actual cessation success remains low at 13.52%.
E-cigarette use was associated with higher quit attempt odds among Chinese adolescents; leaves open whether it supports successful cessation, warranting longitudinal data.
OBJECTIVE: China produces the majority of the world's electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and e-cigarettes have become popular in the country, especially among young people. However, little is known about the characteristics of e-cigarette use in China and how it is associated with smoking cessation behavior. This study focuses on the adolescent group in China and examines their perception and use of e-cigarettes and the association with smoking abstinence. METHODS: We use a mobile app-based survey on smoking behavior conducted in November 2015 in China, and focus on a sample of 2042 adolescents aged between 12 and 18. Awareness, perception, use of e-cigarettes are examined as well as the behaviors of promoting e-cigarettes and of smoking cessation. A logistic regression is performed to test the association between e-cigarette use and smoking abstinence behavior. RESULTS: In 2015, nearly 90% of the surveyed adolescents in China were aware of e-cigarettes, while over a quarter of the respondents were ever users. The odds ratio for ever users of e-cigarettes to have tried to quit smoking conventional cigarettes was 1.60 that of never users. For those who tried to quit smoking, 36.02% indicated that they used e-cigarettes to help quit. However, only 13.52% of those who had used e-cigarettes to help quit smoking were successful in quitting. CONCLUSIONS: This study is one of the first empirical research on e-cigarette use among Chinese adolescents. E-cigarettes are widely known and quite popular among Chinese adolescents. As the association between e-cigarette use and smoking cessation behavior is less than clear, more empirical research is called for to help form evidence-based regulatory policy on e-cigarettes in China.
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Wang et al. (2018) conducted a cross-sectional in Smoking behavior (n=2,042). E-cigarette use vs. Never users of e-cigarettes was evaluated on Trying to quit smoking conventional cigarettes (OR 1.60). Ever use of e-cigarettes among Chinese adolescents was associated with increased odds of trying to quit smoking conventional cigarettes compared to never users (OR 1.60).