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What Motivates Smokers to Switch to ENDS? A Qualitative Study of Perceptions and Use

Switching completely from cigarettes to electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) may reduce health risks for addicted smokers. This paper provides information about perceptions and other factors that may influence smokers’ ENDS use and substitution for cigarettes. We conducted 12 online focus gro...

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Autores principales: Evans, Abigail T., Henderson, Katherine C., Geier, Anna, Weaver, Scott R., Spears, Claire Adams, Ashley, David L., Fritz, Meredith, John, Lisa, Pechacek, Terry F.
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: MDPI 2020
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7729446/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33260570
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17238865
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author Evans, Abigail T.
Henderson, Katherine C.
Geier, Anna
Weaver, Scott R.
Spears, Claire Adams
Ashley, David L.
Fritz, Meredith
John, Lisa
Pechacek, Terry F.
author_facet Evans, Abigail T.
Henderson, Katherine C.
Geier, Anna
Weaver, Scott R.
Spears, Claire Adams
Ashley, David L.
Fritz, Meredith
John, Lisa
Pechacek, Terry F.
author_sort Evans, Abigail T.
collection PubMed
description Switching completely from cigarettes to electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) may reduce health risks for addicted smokers. This paper provides information about perceptions and other factors that may influence smokers’ ENDS use and substitution for cigarettes. We conducted 12 online focus groups (N = 61) among smokers who had never tried using ENDS (Never Users, N = 11), currently used both cigarettes and ENDS (Dual Users, N = 21), used but discontinued ENDS (Rejectors, N = 14), and switched completely to ENDS use (Switchers, N = 15). Thematic analysis was used to interpret the transcripts. Participants described initial interest in trying ENDS in hopes of quitting smoking and because of convenience (i.e., due to rules, regulations, or social norms). Risk perceptions and higher prices relative to cigarettes were reported as disadvantages of ENDS that discouraged initiation. Dual Users and Rejectors reported product problems (e.g., products breaking) and dissatisfaction (i.e., inability to satisfy cravings for cigarettes) as factors that lowered their substitutability for cigarettes or led to discontinuing ENDS use. Switchers indicated that satisfaction, lack of product problems, and perceived safety facilitated successfully switching from cigarette smoking to exclusive ENDS use. However, Switchers reported trying many products before they found ones that satisfied their needs. We recommend that policymakers consider the potential impact of tobacco control policies on smokers’ motivation and ability to switch completely from cigarettes to ENDS.
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spelling pubmed-77294462020-12-12 What Motivates Smokers to Switch to ENDS? A Qualitative Study of Perceptions and Use Evans, Abigail T. Henderson, Katherine C. Geier, Anna Weaver, Scott R. Spears, Claire Adams Ashley, David L. Fritz, Meredith John, Lisa Pechacek, Terry F. Int J Environ Res Public Health Article Switching completely from cigarettes to electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) may reduce health risks for addicted smokers. This paper provides information about perceptions and other factors that may influence smokers’ ENDS use and substitution for cigarettes. We conducted 12 online focus groups (N = 61) among smokers who had never tried using ENDS (Never Users, N = 11), currently used both cigarettes and ENDS (Dual Users, N = 21), used but discontinued ENDS (Rejectors, N = 14), and switched completely to ENDS use (Switchers, N = 15). Thematic analysis was used to interpret the transcripts. Participants described initial interest in trying ENDS in hopes of quitting smoking and because of convenience (i.e., due to rules, regulations, or social norms). Risk perceptions and higher prices relative to cigarettes were reported as disadvantages of ENDS that discouraged initiation. Dual Users and Rejectors reported product problems (e.g., products breaking) and dissatisfaction (i.e., inability to satisfy cravings for cigarettes) as factors that lowered their substitutability for cigarettes or led to discontinuing ENDS use. Switchers indicated that satisfaction, lack of product problems, and perceived safety facilitated successfully switching from cigarette smoking to exclusive ENDS use. However, Switchers reported trying many products before they found ones that satisfied their needs. We recommend that policymakers consider the potential impact of tobacco control policies on smokers’ motivation and ability to switch completely from cigarettes to ENDS. MDPI 2020-11-28 2020-12 /pmc/articles/PMC7729446/ /pubmed/33260570 http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17238865 Text en © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
spellingShingle Article
Evans, Abigail T.
Henderson, Katherine C.
Geier, Anna
Weaver, Scott R.
Spears, Claire Adams
Ashley, David L.
Fritz, Meredith
John, Lisa
Pechacek, Terry F.
What Motivates Smokers to Switch to ENDS? A Qualitative Study of Perceptions and Use
title What Motivates Smokers to Switch to ENDS? A Qualitative Study of Perceptions and Use
title_full What Motivates Smokers to Switch to ENDS? A Qualitative Study of Perceptions and Use
title_fullStr What Motivates Smokers to Switch to ENDS? A Qualitative Study of Perceptions and Use
title_full_unstemmed What Motivates Smokers to Switch to ENDS? A Qualitative Study of Perceptions and Use
title_short What Motivates Smokers to Switch to ENDS? A Qualitative Study of Perceptions and Use
title_sort what motivates smokers to switch to ends? a qualitative study of perceptions and use
topic Article
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7729446/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33260570
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17238865
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