IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v17y2020i23p8865-d452979.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

What Motivates Smokers to Switch to ENDS? A Qualitative Study of Perceptions and Use

Author

Listed:
  • Abigail T. Evans

    (Battelle Memorial Institute, Baltimore, MD 21209, USA)

  • Katherine C. Henderson

    (School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA)

  • Anna Geier

    (Battelle Memorial Institute, Baltimore, MD 21209, USA)

  • Scott R. Weaver

    (School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA)

  • Claire Adams Spears

    (School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA)

  • David L. Ashley

    (School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA)

  • Meredith Fritz

    (Battelle Memorial Institute, Baltimore, MD 21209, USA)

  • Lisa John

    (Battelle Memorial Institute, Baltimore, MD 21209, USA)

  • Terry F. Pechacek

    (School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA)

Abstract

Switching completely from cigarettes to electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) may reduce health risks for addicted smokers. This paper provides information about perceptions and other factors that may influence smokers’ ENDS use and substitution for cigarettes. We conducted 12 online focus groups ( N = 61) among smokers who had never tried using ENDS (Never Users, N = 11), currently used both cigarettes and ENDS (Dual Users, N = 21), used but discontinued ENDS (Rejectors, N = 14), and switched completely to ENDS use (Switchers, N = 15). Thematic analysis was used to interpret the transcripts. Participants described initial interest in trying ENDS in hopes of quitting smoking and because of convenience (i.e., due to rules, regulations, or social norms). Risk perceptions and higher prices relative to cigarettes were reported as disadvantages of ENDS that discouraged initiation. Dual Users and Rejectors reported product problems (e.g., products breaking) and dissatisfaction (i.e., inability to satisfy cravings for cigarettes) as factors that lowered their substitutability for cigarettes or led to discontinuing ENDS use. Switchers indicated that satisfaction, lack of product problems, and perceived safety facilitated successfully switching from cigarette smoking to exclusive ENDS use. However, Switchers reported trying many products before they found ones that satisfied their needs. We recommend that policymakers consider the potential impact of tobacco control policies on smokers’ motivation and ability to switch completely from cigarettes to ENDS.

Suggested Citation

  • Abigail T. Evans & Katherine C. Henderson & Anna Geier & Scott R. Weaver & Claire Adams Spears & David L. Ashley & Meredith Fritz & Lisa John & Terry F. Pechacek, 2020. "What Motivates Smokers to Switch to ENDS? A Qualitative Study of Perceptions and Use," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-17, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:23:p:8865-:d:452979
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/23/8865/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/23/8865/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jessica K. Pepper & Kurt M. Ribisl & Sherry L. Emery & Noel T. Brewer, 2014. "Reasons for Starting and Stopping Electronic Cigarette Use," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-17, October.
    2. Neil McKeganey & Tiffany Dickson, 2017. "Why Don’t More Smokers Switch to Using E-Cigarettes: The Views of Confirmed Smokers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-12, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh & Norayuni Mohd Ismail & Zaleha Md Isa & Andrea Yu-Lin Ban, 2023. "Exhaled Carbon Monoxide Level and Practices among Tobacco and Nicotine Adult Users in Klang Valley, Malaysia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-15, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kim A. G. J. Romijnders & Liesbeth Van Osch & Hein De Vries & Reinskje Talhout, 2018. "Perceptions and Reasons Regarding E-Cigarette Use among Users and Non-Users: A Narrative Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-19, June.
    2. Marissa G. Hall & Jessica K. Pepper & Jennifer C. Morgan & Noel T. Brewer, 2016. "Social Interactions as a Source of Information about E-Cigarettes: A Study of U.S. Adult Smokers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-10, August.
    3. Elle Wadsworth & Joanne Neale & Ann McNeill & Sara C. Hitchman, 2016. "How and Why Do Smokers Start Using E-Cigarettes? Qualitative Study of Vapers in London, UK," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-13, June.
    4. Karolien Adriaens & Dinska Van Gucht & Frank Baeyens, 2018. "About One in Five Novice Vapers Buying Their First E-Cigarette in a Vape Shop Are Smoking Abstinent after Six Months," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-21, August.
    5. Walton Sumner & Konstantinos Farsalinos, 2018. "Lessons and Guidance from the Special Issue on Electronic Cigarette Use and Public Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-9, June.
    6. Jung Ah Lee & Sungkyu Lee & Hong-Jun Cho, 2017. "The Relation between Frequency of E-Cigarette Use and Frequency and Intensity of Cigarette Smoking among South Korean Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-9, March.
    7. Lukasz Balwicki & Danielle Smith & Malgorzata Balwicka-Szczyrba & Michal Gawron & Andrzej Sobczak & Maciej L. Goniewicz, 2018. "Youth Access to Electronic Cigarettes in an Unrestricted Market: A Cross-Sectional Study from Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-7, July.
    8. Christine E. Kistler & Trisha M. Crutchfield & Erin L. Sutfin & Leah M. Ranney & Micah L. Berman & Gary A. Zarkin & Adam O. Goldstein, 2017. "Consumers’ Preferences for Electronic Nicotine Delivery System Product Features: A Structured Content Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-10, June.
    9. Monica Webb Hooper & Stephanie K. Kolar, 2016. "Racial/Ethnic Differences in Electronic Cigarette Use and Reasons for Use among Current and Former Smokers: Findings from a Community-Based Sample," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-11, October.
    10. Karolien Adriaens & Dinska Van Gucht & Frank Baeyens, 2018. "IQOS TM vs. e-Cigarette vs. Tobacco Cigarette: A Direct Comparison of Short-Term Effects after Overnight-Abstinence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-20, December.
    11. Nan Jiang & Shu Xu & Le Li & Omar El-Shahawy & Nicholas Freudenberg & Jenni A. Shearston & Scott E. Sherman, 2022. "The Mediating Effect of E-Cigarette Harm Perception in the Relationship between E-Cigarette Advertising Exposure and E-Cigarette Use," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-10, May.
    12. Arturo Durazo & Marlena Hartman-Filson & Holly Elser & Natalie M. Alizaga & Maya Vijayaraghavan, 2021. "E-Cigarette Use among Current Smokers Experiencing Homelessness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-11, April.
    13. Socrates Yong-da Wu & Man Ping Wang & William H. Li & Antonio C. Kwong & Vienna W. Lai & Tai Hing Lam, 2018. "Does Electronic Cigarette Use Predict Abstinence from Conventional Cigarettes among Smokers in Hong Kong?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-10, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:23:p:8865-:d:452979. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.