Characteristics of users and usage of different types of electronic cigarettes: findings from an online survey

Introduction:
This text summarizes a research study on the characteristics and usage patterns of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) users. The study was conducted through an online survey of current e-cigarette users from several countries. The survey collected data on demographics, smoking status, e-cigarette usage patterns, modifications of e-cigarette devices and liquids, and perceived effects of e-cigarettes on smoking cessation and relapse. The study also compared users of pre-filled cartridges, refillable tanks, and modified models for their patterns of use, reasons for use, satisfaction, and perceived effects on smoking.

Key Points:

* The study enrolled a large convenience sample of vapers via the internet and assessed their personal characteristics and usage patterns.
* Half the vapers in this internet sample scored positively for problem drinking (AUDIT-C), a third scored positively for depression, and half were overweight.
* Most participants (92%) used e-cigarettes daily, and most (71%) used refillable tanks or added drops of liquid ('drip').
* Brands and models: The most commonly used e-cigarette brands were Joye/Joyetech (20% of respondents) and Ego (14%).
* Flavors: The most commonly used flavors were tobacco (35% of participants), various fruits (18%), mint-menthol (14%), and RY4 (a mixed caramel/tobacco flavor, 5%).
* Comparison of users of refillable tanks versus pre-filled cartridges: More men and more former smokers used refillable tanks than pre-filled cartridges. Users of refillable tanks were less likely than users of pre-filled cartridges to currently use a nicotine medication.
* Modifications of liquids and devices: Forty percent of participants had ever mixed their own refill liquids, and 30% of participants had ever modified their e-cigarette hardware.
* Among tank users, modifiers were more likely than non-modifiers to use e-cigarettes because they enjoyed them, to say that they liked the taste of the vapor and the sensation when they inhaled, and to say that it was easy to abstain from smoking when using e-cigarettes.

Main Message:
The study found that e-cigarette users have a high prevalence of depression, problem drinking, and overweight, which reflects the high prevalence of these problems among smokers. It also found that different types of e-cigarettes are used by different types of vapers, and that newer generations of products are perceived to be more effective than older products. These findings suggest that specific educational interventions should be designed to help vapers choose the best products and overcome technical barriers to effective use. Furthermore, the high prevalence of depression, problem drinking, and overweight among vapers should be taken into account by clinicians and regulators.

Etter, Jean‐François. “Characteristics of Users and Usage of Different Types of Electronic Cigarettes: Findings from an Online Survey.” Addiction 111, no. 4 (April 2016): 724–33. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.13240.