Summary
Introduction:
This article examines the internal consistency, structure, and validity of three distinct e-cigarette dependence measures in dual users of e-cigarettes and combustible cigarettes. The study aims to provide empirical support for these measures and inform the appraisal of the potential public health impacts of e-cigarettes.
Key Points:
* The study sample consisted of 256 dual users, with a mean age of 39.0 years old and 54.9% male.
* The three e-cigarette dependence measures examined were the e-FTCD, PS-ECDI, and e-WISDM.
* Internal consistency was relatively low for the e-FTCD, adequate for the PS-ECDI, and high for the e-WISDM.
* Single-factor and 11-factor CFas were conducted for the e-FTCD and e-WISDM, respectively, and a maximum likelihood estimator was used for the e-WISDM items.
* The e-FTCD was found to have a single-factor structure, but the PS-ECDI did not. The 11-factor CFa for the e-WISDM appeared to be a better fit than the 2-factor model.
* The e-cigarette measures demonstrated strong intercorrelations, with the PS-ECDI being most strongly correlated with the e-FTCD and e-WISDM PDM.
* The e-FTCD, PS-ECDI, e-WISDM Total, and various e-WISDM subscales were significantly related to self-reported addiction, vapes/day, vaping days/week, time to first vape, nicotine concentration, cotinine, and NNaL.
* The e-FTCD, e-PS-ECDI, and multiple e-WISDM measures predicted the likelihood of discontinuation of e-cigarette use at 1-year follow-up.
Main Message:
The study provides empirical support for three e-cigarette dependence measures: the e-FTCD, PS-ECDI, and e-WISDM. These measures appear to be valid and reliable in measuring e-cigarette dependence in dual users. The study highlights the importance of understanding e-cigarette dependence and its relation to combustible cigarette use in order to inform public health policy and regulations. The findings suggest that measures of e-cigarette dependence can help predict the likelihood of e-cigarette cessation, which has important implications for harm reduction and smoking cessation interventions.
Citation
Piper ME, Baker TB, Benowitz NL, Smith SS, Jorenby DE. E-cigarette Dependence Measures in Dual Users: Reliability and Relations With Dependence Criteria and E-cigarette Cessation. Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. 2020;22(5):756-763. doi:10.1093/ntr/ntz040
