Abstract
Introduction
The aim of this study was to evaluate socioeconomic and racial/ethnic differences
in e-cigarette uptake and harm perceptions about e-cigarettes among adults who smoke
cigarettes in the United States (US).
Methods
Five waves of the US Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study (2013-2019)
were used to assess transitions from exclusive cigarette smoking to [1] exclusive
e-cigarette use [2] dual use [3] nonuse of either product (N=7,172). Analyses (conducted
in 2022) estimated differences in transitions and e-cigarette harm perceptions by
race/ethnicity, income, and education.
Results
Hispanic (OR=0.32, 95%CI: 0.18-0.54) and Black (OR=0.38, 95%CI: 0.22-0.65) adults
were less likely than White adults to transition from exclusive cigarette to exclusive
e-cigarette use after one year. Adults with a Bachelor's degree (versus less than
high school, OR=2.57, 95%CI: 1.49-4.45) and adults making ≥$100,000/year (versus <$10,000,
OR=3.61, 95%CI: 2.10-6.22) were more likely to transition from exclusive cigarette
to exclusive e-cigarette use. Hispanic and Black adults and those with lower income
and education were more likely to perceive e-cigarettes as equally or more harmful
than cigarettes, which in turn was associated with lower odds of transitioning from
exclusive cigarette smoking to exclusive e-cigarette use (OR=0.62, 95%CI: 0.47-0.81)
.
Conclusions
Adults who were Hispanic, Black, and/or had lower socioeconomic status were less likely
to use e-cigarettes to quit cigarettes. Findings provide preliminary evidence that
differences in harm perceptions may contribute to disparities in e-cigarette transitions.
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Copyright
© 2023 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
