Summary
Introduction:
This text is a summary of a study examining the relationship between older smokers' attitudes and beliefs about e-cigarettes and their tobacco use behavior. The study surveyed a random national sample of current smokers over the age of 45. The key points and main message of the study are summarized below.
Key Points:
* The study found that most older smokers want to quit conventional cigarettes, and e-cigarette use is increasing among this population.
* Current e-cigarette users believed that e-cigarettes help quit using cigarettes, feel cleaner than smoking cigarettes, and are safer than conventional cigarettes.
* Smokers not considering cessation believed that friends and family think it is okay to smoke cigarettes.
* Perceived social acceptability can influence older smokers to start and maintain conventional and e-cigarette use.
Main Message:
The main message of this study is the importance of understanding the attitudes and beliefs of older smokers towards e-cigarettes and how these perceptions influence their tobacco use behavior. As the burden of tobacco-related disease and impairment is greatest for older adults, it is crucial to inform nurses and public policymakers about the use and safety of e-cigarettes and their effectiveness as a cessation tool. Clinicians should educate patients and the public about the risks associated with e-cigarette use and emphasize evidence-based tobacco addiction treatments. Further research is needed to determine the long-term cessation outcomes and characterize older smokers' perceptions and use patterns over time. Overall, the study highlights the need for targeted interventions to promote smoking cessation among older adults.
Citation
Goldberg, Rachel L., Cheryl Dankiewicz, and Janine K. Cataldo. “Older Smokers’ Beliefs About e-Cigarettes and Intent to Quit Conventional Cigarettes.” Journal of Gerontological Nursing 44, no. 12 (December 2018): 17–24. https://doi.org/10.3928/00989134-20181018-01.
