Impact of Flavour Variability on Electronic Cigarette Use Experience: An Internet Survey
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Methods
3. Statistical Analysis
4. Results
4.1. Baseline Characteristics
4.2. Perceptions in Relation to Flavours
Characteristic | Total | Former Smokers | Current Smokers | Statistic | P |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Participants, n (%) | 4,618 | 4,117 (91.2) | 398 (8.8) | ||
English translation | 4,386 (95.0) | 3,915 (95.1) | 369 (92.7) | ||
Greek translation | 232 (5.0) | 202 (4.9) | 29 (7.3) | ||
Region of residence, n (%) | |||||
America | 2,220 (48.5) | 2,007 (48.7) | 157 (39.4) | ||
Asia | 76 (1.7) | 58 (1.4) | 16 (4.0) | ||
Australia | 80 (1.7) | 75 (1.8) | 4 (1.0) | ||
Europe | 2,197 (48.0) | 1,939 (47.1) | 217 (54.5) | ||
Education, n (%) | |||||
High school or less | 1,037 (22.7) | 917 (22.3) | 98 (24.6) | ||
Technical Education | 1,099 (24.1) | 993 (24.1) | 86 (21.6) | ||
University/College | 2,425 (53.2) | 2,170 (52.7) | 206 (51.8) | ||
Age (years) | 40 (32–49) | 40 (32–49) | 40 (32–49) | U = 754,278 | 0.624 |
Gender (male) | 3,229 (71.8) | 2,922 (72.7) | 246 (62.5) | χ2 = 18.0 | <0.001 |
Smoking duration (years) | 22 (15–30) | 22 (15–30) | 22 (14–30) | U = 816,534 | 0.924 |
Cigarette consumption before EC use (/d) | 24 (20–30) | 25 (20–30) | 20 (19–30) | U = 768,398 | 0.189 |
Cigarettes consumption after EC use (/d) | 4 (2–6) | ||||
EC use duration (months) | 12 (6–23) | 12 (6–23) | 12 (5–23) | U = 790,219 | 0.373 |
EC consumption (ml or cartridges/d) | 4 (3–5) | 4 (3–5) | 3 (2–5) | U = 677,862 | <0.001 |
Nicotine levels in EC (mg/ml) | 12 (6–18) | 12 (6–18) | 12 (8–18) | U = 722,563 | 0.005 |
EC devices used, n (%) | |||||
Cigarette-like | 84 (1.8) | 61 (1.5) | 20 (5.0) | χ2 = 25.9 | <0.001 |
eGo-type | 1,123 (24.7) | 966 (23.5) | 133 (33.4) | χ2 = 19.5 | <0.001 |
“Mods” a | 3,348 (73.5) | 3,047 (74.0) | 237 (59.5) | χ2 = 38.3 | <0.001 |
Characteristic | Total | Former Smokers | Current Smokers | Statistic | P |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Flavours used now, n (%) a | |||||
Tobacco | 1,984 (43.9) | 1,773 (43.1) | 211 (53.0) | χ2 = 14.6 | <0.001 |
Mint/menthol | 1,468 (31.8) | 1,339 (32.5) | 129 (32.4) | χ2 = 0.0 | 0.964 |
Sweet | 2,836 (61.4) | 2,629 (63.9) | 207 (52.0) | χ2 = 21.8 | <0.001 |
Nuts | 691 (15.0) | 643 (15.6) | 48 (12.1) | χ2 = 3.5 | 0.060 |
Fruits | 3,203 (69.4) | 2,953 (71.7) | 250 (62.8) | χ2 = 14.0 | <0.001 |
Drinks/beverages | 1,699 (36.8) | 1,562 (37.9) | 137 (34.4) | χ2 = 1.9 | 0.167 |
Other | 1,028 (22.3) | 946 (23.0) | 82 (20.6) | χ2 = 1.2 | 0.281 |
Flavours used at EC initiation, n (%) a | |||||
Tobacco | 3,118 (69.1) | 2,846 (69.1) | 272 (68.3) | χ2 = 0.1 | 0.746 |
Mint/menthol | 1,086 (24.1) | 1,004 (24.4) | 82 (20.6) | χ2 = 2.8 | 0.092 |
Sweet | 1,347 (29.8) | 1,251 (30.4) | 96 (24.1) | χ2 = 6.8 | 0.009 |
Nuts | 203 (4.5) | 186 (4.5) | 17 (4.3) | χ2 = 0.1 | 0.821 |
Fruits | 1,743 (38.6) | 1,606 (39.0) | 137 (34.4) | χ2 = 3.2 | 0.073 |
Drinks/beverages | 808 (17.9) | 748 (16.8) | 60 (15.1) | χ2 = 2.4 | 0.124 |
Other | 302 (6.7) | 282 (6.8) | 20 (5.0) | χ2 = 1.9 | 0.164 |
Switching between flavours, n (%) | |||||
Daily/within the day | 3,083 (68.3) | 2,851 (69.2) | 232 (58.3) | χ2 = 20.1 | <0.001 |
Weekly | 718 (15.9) | 636 (15.4) | 82 (20.6) | χ2 = 7.2 | 0.007 |
Less than weekly | 465 (10.3) | 412 (10.0) | 53 (13.3) | χ2 = 4.3 | 0.038 |
At EC initiation, was it difficult to find the flavours of your preference? b | 2 (1–3) | 2 (1–3) | 2 (1–3) | U = 760,068 | 0.054 |
Why do you feel the need to choose different flavours? n (%) a | |||||
Like variety of choices | 3,300 (73.1) | 3,041 (73.9) | 259 (65.1) | χ2 = 14.3 | <0.001 |
They get “blunt” from long-term use | 2,325 (51.5) | 2,131 (51.8) | 194 (48.7) | χ2 = 1.3 | 0.250 |
Other reasons | 342 (7.6) | 318 (7.7) | 24 (6) | χ2 = 1.5 | 0.223 |
Was flavours variability important in reducing/quitting smoking? b | 4 (3–5) | 4 (3–5) | 4 (3–5) | U = 731,547 | 0.455 |
How would your experience with EC change if flavours variability was limited? n (%) a | |||||
Less enjoyable | 3,111 (68.9) | 2,886 (70.1) | 225 (56.5) | χ2 = 31.2 | <0.001 |
More boring | 2,063 (45.7) | 1,901 (46.2) | 236 (40.7) | χ2 = 4.4 | 0.036 |
Increase craving for cigarettes | 2,188 (48.5) | 1,982 (48.1) | 206 (51.8) | χ2 = 1.9 | 0.168 |
Less likely to reduce or quit smoking | 1,793 (39.7) | 1,617 (39.3) | 176 (44.2) | χ2 = 3.7 | 0.054 |
No difference | 285 (6.3) | 253 (6.1) | 32 (8.0) | χ2 = 2.2 | 0.138 |
5. Discussion
6. Conclusions
Acknowledgements
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Farsalinos, K.E.; Romagna, G.; Tsiapras, D.; Kyrzopoulos, S.; Spyrou, A.; Voudris, V. Impact of Flavour Variability on Electronic Cigarette Use Experience: An Internet Survey. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2013, 10, 7272-7282. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph10127272
Farsalinos KE, Romagna G, Tsiapras D, Kyrzopoulos S, Spyrou A, Voudris V. Impact of Flavour Variability on Electronic Cigarette Use Experience: An Internet Survey. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2013; 10(12):7272-7282. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph10127272
Chicago/Turabian StyleFarsalinos, Konstantinos E., Giorgio Romagna, Dimitris Tsiapras, Stamatis Kyrzopoulos, Alketa Spyrou, and Vassilis Voudris. 2013. "Impact of Flavour Variability on Electronic Cigarette Use Experience: An Internet Survey" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 10, no. 12: 7272-7282. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph10127272