Summary
Introduction:
This text is a scientific report on a study examining use trends of e-cigarette devices types, heated tobacco products (hTPs), and e-liquid nicotine concentrations in England from 2016 to 2020. The study aims to provide insights on the use patterns of these products and how they have changed over time.
Key Points:
* The study used data from a representative repeat cross-sectional survey of adults aged 16 or older in England.
* The study found that the majority of current e-cigarette users in England used tank devices, followed by mods, pods, and disposables.
* The use of pod devices overtook mods in 2020, while the use of hTPs remained rare.
* The nicotine concentration of e-liquids used by e-cigarette users in England was mostly ≤ 6 mg/ml, and across all years, the most widely used concentration was ≤ 6 mg/ml.
* Ex-smokers were more likely than current smokers to use mod and tank e-cigarettes, but less likely to use pods, disposables, JUUL, and hTPs.
* The study found that daily e-cigarette users were less likely to use disposable products than non-daily users.
* The study also found that the vast majority of e-cigarette users used e-liquid that contained nicotine, but lower nicotine concentrations (≤ 6 mg/ml) were most popular.
Main Message:
The study highlights the growing popularity of pod devices and the continued dominance of refillable tank e-cigarettes in England. The regulatory environment and nicotine caps appear to shape which products people use. Thus, it is essential to continue tracking the popularity of different devices and how it changes alongside a shifting regulatory landscape. The study also highlights the need for further research on the impact of e-cigarette use on smoking cessation and public health.
Citation
Tattan-Birch h, Brown J, Shahab L, Jackson SE. Trends in use of e-cigarette device types and heated tobacco products from 2016 to 2020 in England. Scientific reports. 2021;11(1):13203. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-92617-x
