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Importance of Various E-Cigarette Device and E-Liquid Characteristics by Smoking Status among Young Adults Who Vape

Whaley RC, Harlow AF, Krueger EA, Stone MD, Dimofte CV, Strong DR, Barrington-Trimis JL

Substance use & misuse, 2024

295 participants · 1 citation

Abstract

Background: E-cigarette product characteristics are known to influence appeal among young adults. Understanding which characteristics appeal to individuals with (vs. without) a history of combusted tobacco use is essential for developing effective tobacco control policies.

Methods: Anonymous, self-report data were collected from young adults (18-30 years) who had used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days (n = 295) online via Prolific from September-October 2019. Using a visual analogue scale (range: 0-100), participants rated the importance of ten e-cigarette device and nine e-liquid characteristics. Adjusted linear regression models were used to evaluate the association of combusted tobacco use status (never, former, current) with mean rating scores for each of the nineteen characteristics.

Results: The most important e-cigarette device characteristics were price (Mean = 81.1; [SD = 17.9]), size (Mean = 75.5 [SD = 20.9]), and hit strength (Mean = 73.8 [SD = 20.4]) while the most important e-liquid characteristics were flavor (M = 85.1 [SD = 16.3]), price (M = 80.9 [SD = 18.4]), and nicotine level (M = 77.8 [18.9]). Differences by combusted tobacco use status were observed for device brand, temperature/voltage, customizability, color, and popularity, with the highest ratings generally observed among those concurrently using combustible tobacco products. For e-liquids, differences by use status were observed for flavor, price, and bottle type. Notably, those concurrently using…

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