Health professionals in Flanders perceive the potential health risks of vaping as lower than those of smoking but do not recommend using e-cigarettes to their smoking patients

Introduction:
This text is a research article that examines the attitudes and risk perceptions of health professionals in Flanders regarding e-cigarettes. The study compares general practitioners (GPs) and tobacco counselors, and also includes a reference group from the general public. The research focuses on perceptions of the health risks of e-cigarettes, both in absolute terms and relative to traditional tobacco cigarettes. The study also explores beliefs about the addictive properties of e-cigarettes, gateway and renormalization effects, selling to minors, use in public places, and the potential of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid.

Key points:

* The study sample consisted of 76 respondents, with 29% being GPs and 71% being tobacco counselors.
* More than two-thirds of the sample agreed that e-cigarettes are harmful to the vaper, and about one-third agreed that e-cigarettes are harmful to people in the vicinity of the vaper.
* About half of the professionals agreed that e-cigarettes are carcinogenic, while more than 8 out of 10 agreed that the risk of cancer is lower for e-cigarettes than for conventional cigarettes.
* More than 8 out of 10 agreed that e-cigarettes increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, but more than 8 out of 10 also agreed that the risk of cardiovascular disease is lower for e-cigarettes than for conventional cigarettes.
* About half of the sample agreed that nicotine is a very harmful component of e-cigarettes, and 9 out of 10 agreed that e-cigarettes with nicotine have an addictive effect.
* More than 8 out of 10 agreed that e-cigarettes should be prohibited to minors and 8 out of 10 agreed that e-cigarettes will cause renormalization of smoking.
* About two-thirds of the respondents disagreed that e-cigarettes are an effective smoking cessation aid.

Main message:
The study found that health professionals in Flanders perceive the potential health risks of vaping as lower than those of smoking, but they do not recommend using e-cigarettes to their smoking patients. This is likely due to misconceptions about the harms of e-cigarettes and nicotine, as well as concerns about gateway and renormalization effects. The study suggests that there is a need for better education and training for health professionals regarding e-cigarettes and tobacco harm reduction. It is important for regulatory agencies to consider these findings when developing policies and guidelines regarding e-cigarettes.

Van Gucht, Dinska, and Frank Baeyens. “Health Professionals in Flanders Perceive the Potential Health Risks of Vaping as Lower than Those of Smoking but Do Not Recommend Using E-Cigarettes to Their Smoking Patients.” Harm Reduction Journal 13, no. 1 (December 2016): 22. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-016-0111-4.