Perception of harms and benefits of electronic cigarettes among adult Malaysian men: a comparison by electronic cigarette use and smoking status

• Main Authors: Chan, Caryn Mei Hsien, Ab Rahman, Jamalludin, Tee, Guat Hiong, Wee, Lei Hum, Ho, Bee Kiau, Md Haris Robson, Noor Zurani, Draman, Samsul, Miaw, Jane Yn Ling, Lim, Kuang Hock, Mohd Yusoff, Muhammad Fadhli, Kartiwi, Mira, Ab Rahman, Norny Syafinaz, Nik Mohamed, Mohamad Haniki
• Format: Article
• Language: English; English; English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2019
• Subjects: RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/77884/1/Caryn%20percep%20harm.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/77884/7/Scopus%20-%20perception%20if%20harms.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/77884/13/77884_Perception%20of%20Harms%20and%20Benefits%20of%20Electronic%20Cigarettes%20_wos.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/77884/; https://journals.sagepub.com/home/aph

Little is known about the perceptions of harm and benefit associated with the use of e-cigarettes in Malaysia. This was a cross-sectional analysis of a nationally representative sample comprising 1987 males (≥18 years of age). Current, former, and never users of conventional cigarettes and/or e-cigarettes participated in a questionnaire study conducted via face-to-face interviews. The relationship between participant characteristics and perceptions of harm and benefit of e-cigarettes were determined with multivariable logistic regression. There were 950 current, 377 former, and 660 never users of e-cigarettes. Government employees (odds ratio [OR] = 1.85, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.29-2.66, P = .001), private sector employees (OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.27-2.18, P = .001), and the self-employed people (OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.312.17, P = .001) were more likely to perceive e-cigarettes as more harmful than conventional cigarettes compared with respondents who were not wage earners. All current users in the form of e-cigarette users (OR = 7.87, 95% CI = 3.23-19.18), conventional cigarette smokers (OR = 1.80, 95% CI = 1.39-2.33), and dual users (OR = 8.59, 95% CI = 4.76-15.52) were more likely to perceive e-cigarettes as useful in quitting conventional cigarette smoking compared with former and never users. Our findings constitute an important snapshot into the perceptions of e-cigarette harms and benefits, which could inform targeted public health messaging strategies.