How Is Use of Electronic Cigarettes Related to Conventional Cigarette Use? A Qualitative Study among Korean American Young Adults

ABSTRACT

Given the growing popularity of e-cigarettes in the United States, there is a need to understand the relationship between conventional and electronic cigarette use among Korean American young adults. Thus, this study aimed to explore Korean American young adults’ experience of electronic cigarettes and its association with use of conventional cigarettes. This study employed an exploratory qualitative design. Individual interviews were conducted with 15 Korean American young adults aged between 18 and 25 years who reported having smoked at least one conventional cigarette per day for the past 6 months. Interview data were subjected to thematic analysis in order to gain an in-depth understanding of the interconnection between e-cigarette and conventional cigarette use. Data analysis revealed three themes involving reasons for buying, using, and stopping use of e-cigarettes, each of which had several sub-themes. Study results suggest that experience of e-cigarettes was related to conventional cigarette use. Thus, the experience of e-cigarettes as well as conventional cigarettes should be considered in designing smoking cessation interventions for Korean American young adults.

KEYWORDS:

• Korean American
• young adult
• smoking behaviors
• electronic cigarettes
• smoking cessation
• social work

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. According to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), “ever smokers” are defined as persons with lifetime smoking experience of 1 to 99 cigarettes.

2. A World Health Organization (WHO) guideline defines “experimenter” as a person who has smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes (or the equivalent amount of tobacco) in life and now smokes occasionally.