Electronic cigarette use and attempts to quit smoking cigarettes among adolescents in Taiwan.

Introduction:
This article examines the relationship between electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use and attempts to quit smoking cigarettes by adolescent smokers in Taiwan. The study uses data from the Taiwan Global Youth Tobacco Survey conducted annually between 2014 and 2016. The independent variable is e-cigarette use in the previous 30 days, and the outcome variable is attempts to quit cigarette smoking during the previous 12 months. The analysis controls for various demographic, smoking-related, and anti-tobacco message variables.

Key Points:

* The prevalence of current e-cigarette use among adolescent smokers in the 30 days prior to taking the survey increased from 9.82% in 2014 to 27.46% in 2016.
* Attempts to quit smoking decreased slightly from 71.31% in 2014 to 70.59% in 2016.
* Current e-cigarette use was positively associated with attempts to quit cigarette smoking.
* Smokers who observed anti-tobacco media messages, attended antismoking classes, were influenced by warnings on cigarette packages, or received help to quit were more likely to have attempted to quit cigarettes.
* Other factors associated with attempts to quit smoking include higher grade level, higher monthly allowance, smoking 2-5 cigarettes per day, having only one parent who smokes, close friends who do not smoke, not using other tobacco products, and not having access to free cigarettes.
* The study found a significant interaction between study year and prompted to quit smoking by health warning on cigarette packages, indicating that health warnings on cigarette packages differed in their effects according to the year.
* The positive association between current e-cigarette use and quit attempts may be due to the fact that adolescents see e-cigarettes as a potential means of support for quitting smoking.

Main Message:
The study identifies factors correlated with attempts to quit smoking among adolescent smokers in Taiwan. The findings suggest that the government should continue monitoring electronic cigarette use, combat smoking in the media, provide anti-smoking classes, and expand health warnings on cigarette packages. Additionally, the study highlights the importance of considering the potential interactions between various factors, such as study year and health warnings on cigarette packages, when examining the relationship between e-cigarette use and attempts to quit smoking. Overall, the study provides valuable insights for policymakers and researchers seeking to understand and address the complex relationship between e-cigarette use and smoking cessation among adolescents.

Chen PC, Chang LC, Hsu C, Lee YC. Electronic cigarette use and attempts to quit smoking cigarettes among adolescents in Taiwan. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2019;64(1):99-106. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.07.008