The Role of Knowledge and Risk Beliefs in Adolescent E-Cigarette Use: A Pilot Study

Abstract

The use of e-cigarettes and other vaping devices among adolescents is an urgent public health problem due to the concern about adolescent exposure to nicotine. This study examined: (1) adolescents’ knowledge and beliefs about e-cigarette risks; and (2) whether knowledge and risk beliefs were associated with e-cigarette use. N = 69 adolescents completed a cross-sectional survey about e-cigarette knowledge, attitudes (i.e., risk beliefs), and behavior (KAB). Nearly half (47%) of the sample reported ever using e-cigarettes. The majority of adolescents knew about many of the risks of e-cigarettes, with no differences between never- and ever-users. However, risk beliefs, such as worrying about health risks of using e-cigarettes, varied across groups. Compared to never-users, e-cigarette ever-users were significantly less likely to worry about e-cigarette health risks, less likely to think that e-cigarettes would cause them negative health consequences, and less likely to believe that e-cigarette use would lead to addiction. In a multivariable logistic regression, prior combustible cigarette use, mother’s education, and addiction risk beliefs about e-cigarettes emerged as significant predictors of adolescents’ e-cigarette use. This study reveals that while knowledge is not associated with adolescent e-cigarette use, risk beliefs do predict use.

The Impact of E-Cigarette Warnings, Warning Themes and Inclusion of Relative Harm Statements on Young Adults’ E-Cigarette Perceptions and Use Intentions

“…These findings suggest that these warning themes may deserve additional research attention as potential future warnings, particularly for youth audiences. Indeed, a recent e-cigarette study with adolescents found that while 83% knew that e-cigarettes usually contain nicotine, far fewer knew that e-cigarettes contain harmful chemicals (67%) and might harm teen brain development (49%) [43].…”

Adolescents' receptivity to E-cigarette harms messages delivered using text messaging

“…Responses were on a 5-point scale from "definitely wouldn't" to "definitely would." Three subscales were computed from the item set (Rohde et al, 2018): health worry -"worry about my health" (3 items, α=.89 pretest and α=.86 posttest), health consequences -"damage my brain" (3 items, α=.87 and α=.82), and addiction -"get addicted" (2 items, r=.66 and r=.64).…”

Electronic Cigarette Use Among Adolescents In The European Area

“…Gender is another factor that influences the ever use or regular use of e-cigarettes. Males are more likely to use e-cigarettes than females in Europe, the same trend as in United States of America (USA) (Dai & Hao, 2016;Goniewicz & Zielinska-Danch, 2012;Perikleous et al, 2018;Rohde et al, 2018). In a study in five European countries it was shown that boys are three times more likely to use e-cigarettes than girls (Kristjansson et al, 2017).…”