Evaluating the psychometric properties of the e-cigarette barriers to cessation scale

ABSTRACT

Evidence suggests that electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) users have difficulty quitting e-cigarettes. The Electronic Cigarette Barriers to Cessation Scale (E-BCS) was developed to assess barriers to cessation among e-cigarette users. Yet, no work has evaluated the psychometric properties of the E-BCS. The current study utilized data from two independent samples of adult e-cigarette users to evaluate the psychometric properties and structure of the E-BCS. In Study 1, competing models of the E-BCS were evaluated, and initial construct validity and reliability were explored using data from 599 adult e-cigarettes users (52.3% female, M_age = 35.16 years, SD = 10.30). Results supported a unidimensional structure for the E-BCS comprised of 18 items. In Study 2, the unidimensional structure of the 18-item E-BCS and construct validity were evaluated among a sample of 516 current e-cigarette using adults (52.3% female; M_age = 34.74, SD = 11.37). Results confirmed the unidimensional structure, measurement invariance across sex, and construct validity across related e-cigarette behavior constructs and psychopathology for the E-BCS. These findings suggest that the E-BCS is a potentially useful clinical instrument for measuring barriers that may interfere with e-cigarette cessation.

KEYWORDS:

• Psychometric properties
• e-cigarette barriers to cessation
• measurement invariance
• e-cigarette users

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. Separate analysis was conducted among a subset of sample 2 to evaluate the unidimensional structure of the E-BCS among dual users. Results provided support for the unidimensional structure across e-cigarette users whom also utilize combustible cigarettes: (X2[135] = 307.69, p < .001; RMSEA = .06 [90% CI: .05, .07], p = .01; CFI = .93; SRMR = 0.04)