General and Device-Specific Reasons for ENDS Use: A Qualitative Study with Adult ENDS Users.

Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of a study examining the reasons why adults use electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), also known as e-cigarettes. The study aimed to understand what device type characteristics motivate their use by adults. The results of the study have important implications for regulations and public communication campaigns aimed at achieving public health objectives related to ENDS use.

Key Points:

* The study used a qualitative description approach and conducted focus groups with 32 current ENDS users.
* Participants' reasons for choosing ENDS characteristics included both general and device-specific determinants.
* Health benefits and the lack of offensive odor were commonly identified as important reasons for using ENDS in general.
* Flavor and product discreteness were both general and device-specific determinants of ENDS use.
* Nicotine delivery, cloud size, battery properties, aesthetics, ease of use, and cost were device-specific drivers of participants' choice.
* Regulations and public communication campaigns should consider both general and specific motivations when attempting to achieve public health objectives.

Main Message:
The reasons that adults choose to use ENDS are complex and sometimes related to both ENDS as a category and as specific ENDS product types. Regulations and public communication campaigns aimed at reducing ENDS use should carefully consider how they may impact the use of these products by smokers trying to quit cigarettes. Removing all products with an attractive characteristic could encourage users to abandon ENDS, while limiting the range of available product characteristics may not affect use if other products are available that address the primary appeal to a general categorical reason for use.

Alqahtani MM, Massey ZB, Fairman RT, Churchill V, Ashley DL, Popova L. General and Device-Specific Reasons for ENDS Use: A Qualitative Study with Adult ENDS Users. International journal of environmental research and public health. 2022;19(11). doi:10.3390/ijerph19116822