Page 89 - Livre électronique du Congrès National de Pneumologie 2019

HOW AND WHY DO NON-SMOKERS START ELECTRONIC

CIGARETTES? RESULTS FROM AN ONLINE SURVEY

P21

Introduction

Electronic cigarettes (EC) are marketed as a tool to reduce or quit smoking. Their use is increasing
especially among young people. There is concern that they are used not as a cessation tool but as a
novel experience in their own right.

Aim To assess reasons for starting EC among non-smokers.

Methods

This is a cross sectional internet survey. Participants were enrolled on websites dedicated to EC users
in Tunisia. Social characteristics of respondents, reasons for starting EC and the way of consumption
were retrieved.

Results

Among the 242 respondents, 8 were never smokers (3.3%) and they were adolescents for the most
(age range: 16-29 years). Among the never smokers, 6/8 were advised by their friends (peer effect)
and one started on his own (model role). Three out of eight perceived EC as a less toxic and less
risky way to smoke. EC was also seen as a trendy tool (3/8) that would facilitate socialization (3/8).
Curiosity was the reason for starting EC in 2 individuals. Despite the initial non-smoking status, only
three of them did not use nicotine. Four used steadily a low dosage of nicotine at 3 mg / ml but one
person increased the dosage of nicotine during consumption.

Conculsion

Our results indicate that the perceived health risks and high levels of acceptance among peers
potentially makes EC attractive to non-smokers. EC may pave the way for a future cigarette habit.