Impacts of COVID-19 on Electronic Cigarette Purchasing, Use and Related Behaviors

Soule, Eric K.; Mayne, Shannon; Snipes, William; Guy, Mignonne C.; Breland, Alison; Fagan, Pebbles

doi:10.3390/ijerph17186762

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Impacts of COVID-19 on Electronic Cigarette Purchasing, Use and Related Behaviors

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Pebbles Fagan

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Department of Health Education and Promotion, College of Health and Human Performance East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA

Center for the Study of Tobacco Products, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23220, USA

Department of African American Studies, College of Humanities and Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23220, USA

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Department of Psychology, College of Humanities and Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23220, USA

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Center for the Study of Tobacco, Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(18), 6762; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186762

Received: 15 July 2020 / Revised: 11 September 2020 / Accepted: 14 September 2020 / Published: 16 September 2020

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smoking, Vaping and COVID-19)

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Abstract

Background: COVID-19 has caused health impacts and disruptions globally. Electronic cigarette (ECIG) users may face additional impacts. This study examined impacts of COVID-19 on ECIG users. Methods: Concept mapping, a mixed-methods approach, was used to identify COVID-19 impacts on adult ECIG users. ECIG users (n = 93) provided statements completing a prompt: “A specific way Coronavirus/COVID-19 has affected my vaping/e-cigarette use, my vaping/e-cigarette related purchasing, or other vaping/e-cigarette related behaviors or issues is…”. Participants generated 85 unique statements, sorted statements into groups of similar content and rated each statement on how true they were. Multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis identified thematic clusters. Mean cluster ratings were compared between sample subgroups. Results: Ten clusters were identified: Stocking up and Bulk Purchasing, Challenges in Obtaining ECIG Supplies, Alternative Purchasing Procedures, Increased ECIG use, Disruption of Routine and ECIG Use, Efforts to Decrease ECIG Use, Improving ECIG Skills, COVID-19 Health Concerns, Perceptions of ECIG Use and COVID-19, and COVID-19 Protection. More dependent ECIG users and dual users of ECIGs and cigarettes rated clusters higher than less dependent ECIG users and non-dual users. Conclusions: ECIG users may experience or perceive they face additional COVID-19 impacts, such as increased exposure, financial burdens, stress, and health risks. View Full-Text

Keywords: electronic cigarettes; COVID-19; tobacco

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MDPI and ACS Style

Soule, E.K.; Mayne, S.; Snipes, W.; Guy, M.C.; Breland, A.; Fagan, P. Impacts of COVID-19 on Electronic Cigarette Purchasing, Use and Related Behaviors. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 6762. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186762

AMA Style

Soule EK, Mayne S, Snipes W, Guy MC, Breland A, Fagan P. Impacts of COVID-19 on Electronic Cigarette Purchasing, Use and Related Behaviors. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17(18):6762. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186762

Chicago/Turabian Style

Soule, Eric K., Shannon Mayne, William Snipes, Mignonne C. Guy, Alison Breland, and Pebbles Fagan. 2020. "Impacts of COVID-19 on Electronic Cigarette Purchasing, Use and Related Behaviors" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 18: 6762. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186762

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