Young adult dual combusted cigarette and e-cigarette users’ anticipated responses to hypothetical e-cigarette market restrictions

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this exploratory study was to assess young adult dual e-cigarette (EC) and combusted cigarette (CC) users’ anticipated responses to hypothetical market restrictions regarding key EC characteristics. Methods: Data came from 240 young adult dual EC and CC users recruited via Amazon Mechanical Turk in June 2017. Descriptive statistics were used to report sociodemographic, CC smoking, and EC use characteristics. McNemar’s chi-square tests and chi-square tests were used to assess differences between groups in terms of anticipated responses to hypothetical EC market restrictions. Results: Hypothetical regulations resulted in reported intentions to reduce EC use and increase CC use; the greatest impact was found for restrictions regarding e-liquid nicotine content, followed by flavor and ability to modify EC devices. Moreover, individuals reporting use of flavored e-liquid, high nicotine content e-liquid, and customizable EC were most likely to report intentions to reduce EC use and increase CC use. Conclusions: This work provides preliminary evidence that restrictive regulations regarding key EC characteristics may increase intentions to increase CC use among young adult dual EC and CC users.

Keywords:

• ENDS
• e-cigarette
• cigarette
• smoking
• policy
• tobacco regulatory science

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge and thank Ms. Erin Locey for her assistance with coding photographs of e-cigarette devices. This publication represents the views of the author(s) and does not represent Food and Drug Administration/Center for Tobacco Products position or policy.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (K01DA043413, K23DA039294, and K23DA042898). The funding source had no other role other than financial support.