Factors Associated with Electronic Cigarette Use among Young Adults: The French “Trajectoires EpidéMiologiques en POpulation” (TEMPO) Cohort Study.

Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of the factors associated with electronic cigarette use among young adults in France. The study uses data from the French TEMPO cohort, which is a longitudinal study of young adults aged 22-35 years old. The study investigates demographic, socio-economic, health, psychological, and behavioral characteristics associated with lifetime and current e-cigarette use.

Key Points:

* The study found that 26.9% of current and former smokers reported lifetime e-cigarette use, and 15.2% reported current use.
* Factors associated with lifetime e-cigarette use include low socioeconomic position, traditional cigarette use, positive perceptions of e-cigarettes, asthma, and overweight/obesity.
* Factors associated with current e-cigarette use include traditional cigarette smoking and positive perceptions of e-cigarettes.
* Lifetime and never e-cigarette users differ significantly in terms of current traditional tobacco use across all study years, with no statistically significant differences between lifetime and current e-cigarette users.
* Lifetime and current e-cigarette users did not reduce their consumption of traditional cigarettes between 2011 and 2015.
* The study findings suggest that e-cigarettes do not help smokers quit smoking, and high levels of concurrent e-cigarette and traditional tobacco use among young adults are a concern.

Main Message:
The study highlights the importance of understanding the factors associated with electronic cigarette use among young adults. The findings suggest that e-cigarettes are not an effective tool for smoking cessation and that high levels of concurrent use of e-cigarettes and traditional tobacco products are a concern. Further research is needed to establish the relationship between e-cigarette use and traditional tobacco product use over the long-term. Public health initiatives should focus on educating young adults about the risks associated with e-cigarette use and promoting evidence-based smoking cessation interventions.

Aljandaleh H, Bolze C, El-Khoury Lesueur F, Melchior M, Mary-Krause M. Factors Associated with Electronic Cigarette Use among Young Adults: The French “Trajectoires EpidéMiologiques en POpulation” (TEMPO) Cohort Study. Substance use & misuse. 2020;55(6):964-972. doi:10.1080/10826084.2020.1717534