Perception of e-cigarette harm and benefit - a nationwide survey comparing characteristics between electronic cigarette users, conventional cigarette smokers and dual users

• Main Authors: Caryn, Chan Mei Hsien, Ab Rahman, Jamalludin, Tee, Guat Hiong, Draman, Samsul, Nik Mohamed, Mohamad Haniki, Ho, Bee Kiau, Md Haris Robson, Noor Zurani, Kartiwi, Mira, Ab Rahman, Norny Syafinaz, Lim, Kuang Hock, Baharom, Nizam, Ismail, Norliana, Ling, Miaw Yn, Wee, Lei Hum
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English
• Published: Malaysia Medical Association 2017
• Subjects: R Medicine (General)
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/58873/1/58873_Perception%20of%20e-cigarette.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/58873/; http://www.e-mjm.org/2017/v72s1/33.pdf

Introduction: We conducted a nationally representative study to identify characteristics of current (e-cigarette users, conventional cigarette smokers, and dual users), former and never smokers linked to perceptions of harm and benefit associated with e-cigarette use. Methods: A crosssectional questionnaire survey of 1,987 adults (≥18 years) males was conducted via face-to-face interviews. Survey questions included sociodemographic and smoking-related variables, and questions relating to perceptions of harm and benefit associated with e-cigarette use. Logistic regression was used to identify sociodemographic characteristic linked to the perception of harm and benefit associated with e-cigarettes between types of EC users and smokers, with never smokers as the reference group. Results: Overall, older respondents aged ≥65 years (OR=1.736, CI 0.821-2.260), civil servants (OR=1.721, CI 1.085-2.729), non-governmental organisations (OR=1.570, CI 1.066-2.311) and the selfemployed (OR=1.469, CI 1.016-2.123) were more likely to perceive e-cigarettes as harmful. Conventional cigarette smokers (OR=0.759, CI 0.6090.946) as well as dual users (OR=0.537, CI 0.323-0.893) were less likely to perceive e-cigarettes as harmful. EC users (OR=8.353, CI 3.401-20.517), conventional cigarette smokers (OR=1.948, CI 1.497-2.537), dual users (OR=9.657, CI 5.300-17.596) and former smokers (OR=1.545, CI 1.1332.108), those younger (18-24 years, OR=2.252, CI 1.234-4.109; 25-44 years, OR=1.750, CI 1.055-2.903), were more likely to perceive e-cigarettes as beneficial. However, those with secondary education (OR=0.528, CI 0.379-0.736) and university or college degrees (OR=0.528, CI 0.379-0.736) were less likely to perceive e-cigarettes as beneficial. Discussion: Our findings constitute an important snapshot into the differences between types of EC users or smokers, as well as identifies characteristics associated with perceptions of EC harm and benefit in a nationally representative sample.