Electronic Cigarettes or Vaping: are There any Differences in the Profiles, Use and Perceptions between a Developed and a Developing Country?

Introduction:
This text discusses a study comparing the use and perceptions of electronic cigarettes or vaping between online forum users in a developed country, australia, and a developing country, Bangladesh. The study aimed to identify differences in the profiles, use, and perceptions of e-cigarettes between the two countries.

Key Points:

* The study used a cross-sectional survey design and included 422 participants from online forums in australia and Bangladesh.
* The study found that australians were more likely to be exclusive users of e-cigarettes, while Bangladeshi participants were more likely to be dual users of smoking and e-cigarettes.
* The reasons for using e-cigarettes also differed between the two countries, with australians more likely to mention low cost, good taste/flavour, safety, and assistance in reducing or quitting smoking, while Bangladeshi participants were more likely to mention a social/cool image.
* Both groups perceived e-cigarettes as less addictive and harmful than traditional cigarettes, but there was no significant difference in the intention to quit e-cigarettes in the next five years.
* The dual use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes was common in Bangladesh, potentially due to the gap in regularity policies compared with australia.
* The perceived reasons for vaping varied between australian and Bangladeshi participants, with australian participants stating that the main reasons for using e-cigarettes were the low cost, safety, taste/flavour, and smoking cessation, while Bangladeshi participants perceived vaping as 'cool'.
* The study found that due to the increased prevalence of e-cigarette use amongst young people in the sample from Bangladesh, there is a potentially high risk of switching to regular cigarette smoking and undermining the tobacco control efforts there.

Main Message:
The study highlights the importance of understanding the differences in the use and perceptions of e-cigarettes between developed and developing countries. The findings suggest that precautions need to be taken for promoting e-cigarettes as a harm reduction strategy for smoking cessation in developing countries, such as Bangladesh. The dual use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes is a concern, and further research is needed to examine and target high-risk individuals in Bangladesh. Smokers in australia need supportive strategies for accessing vaping for smoking cessation from General Practitioners as a second-line of treatment following the recent regulation.

Rahman Ma, Joseph B, Nimmi N. Electronic Cigarettes or Vaping: are There any Differences in the Profiles, Use and Perceptions between a Developed and a Developing Country? International journal of environmental research and public health. 2022;19(3). doi:10.3390/ijerph19031673