“That’s the whole thing about vaping, it’s custom tasty goodness”: a meta-ethnography of young adults’ perceptions and experiences of e-cigarette use

BACKGROUND: E-cigarettes are increasing in popularity, particularly among young adults. With public health organisations contesting the possible benefits of e-cigarettes, research is required to explore young adults’ use of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation and recreational tool. This study examined existing qualitative data to understand how transition into adulthood and issues of identity affect young adults’ perceptions and experiences of e-cigarette use. METHODS: A meta-ethnography was conducted to examine how young adults perceive and use e-cigarettes. Data were synthesised using Noblit and Hare’s (1988) meta-ethnographic approach. Bronfenbrenner’s socio-ecological model (1979) was used to conceptualise themes and map findings. RESULTS: A total of 34 studies were included in the review. Young adults viewed e-cigarettes as a safer alternative to traditional cigarette smoking and perceived e-cigarettes as an effective cessation tool. Users were able to personalise their e-cigarette use due to the variety of flavours and devices available. E-cigarettes were found to be a sociable tool as they allowed users to align themselves with their peers who used e-cigarettes and facilitated use within smoke-free environments. Young adults demonstrated high levels of self-efficacy with regards to obtaining e-cigarettes from various retailers and were active consumers of e-cigarette marketing. CONCLUSION: This meta-ethnography provides an in-depth insight into social norms around e-cigarette use and beliefs that e-cigarettes could be a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes. As young adults increasingly engage with e-cigarettes, there is a need for informed policy decisions regarding appropriate use. Engagement with e-cigarettes is often reflected within social media, so this medium could be a key platform for creating tailored interventions which inform young adults about the appropriate use of these products. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13011-021-00416-4.