Ethnic Differences in Patterns of Cigarette and E-Cigarette Use Over Time Among Adolescents.

Introduction:
This text summarizes a research study on the relationship between adolescent e-cigarette and cigarette use and ethnicity. The study followed a diverse group of adolescents over the course of a year and examined patterns of e-cigarette and cigarette use at baseline and follow-up. The results have implications for how e-cigarettes may impact adolescents of different racial/ethnic backgrounds.

Key Points:

* The study followed a diverse group of adolescents in California and Connecticut over the course of a year.
* The study examined patterns of e-cigarette and cigarette use at baseline and follow-up and how they differed by ethnicity.
* Non-Hispanic White youth reported more transitional use patterns (e.g. switching between e-cigarette and cigarette use) while Hispanic White youth reported more stabilizing use patterns (e.g. consistent use of e-cigarettes).
* The study controlled for gender, grade, and cohort.
* The study did not find any significant differences in parental education or risk-taking propensity between ethnic groups.
* The study sample was representative of different ages and geographical locations.
* The study was limited by the small sample size of certain racial/ethnic groups, making it difficult to generalize the results to other populations.

Main Message:
The study's findings suggest that e-cigarettes may have different impacts on adolescents of different racial/ethnic backgrounds. Non-Hispanic White youth were more likely to report transitional use patterns, while Hispanic White youth were more likely to report stabilizing use patterns. These results highlight the importance of considering ethnicity in e-cigarette and cigarette use research and the need for further investigation into the potential differential impacts of e-cigarettes on adolescents of different racial/ethnic backgrounds.

Barrington-Trimis JL, Bello MS, Liu F, et al. Ethnic Differences in Patterns of Cigarette and E-Cigarette Use Over Time Among Adolescents. The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine. 2019;65(3):359-365. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2019.04.002