Youth perceptions of e-cigarette-related risk of lung issues and association with e-cigarette use.

Introduction:
This text is a summary of a research study examining the relationship between adolescent and young adult (AYA) perceptions of e-cigarette-related health risks and e-cigarette use during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study uses data from a national sample of AYAs to examine perceptions of e-cigarette-related risks and assess the relationship between these perceptions and e-cigarette use. The study found that AYA perceptions of e-cigarette-related health risks are associated with e-cigarette use during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key Points:

* The study used a cross-sectional online survey of 4,351 U.S. adolescents and young adults (13 to 24 years old) to collect data.
* Participants rated how much they agreed with statements regarding e-cigarette-related health risks, such as "Vaping increases risk of COVID-19 because it affects lungs" and "Young people are at risk of respiratory problems due to vaping."
* The study found that AYAs who believed that e-cigarettes are less harmful than combustible cigarettes were more likely to experiment with e-cigarettes.
* The study also found that AYAs who believed that there is no hard evidence that e-cigarettes increase the risk of severe lung disease were more likely to use e-cigarettes in the past 30 days.
* The study found that AYAs who believed that e-cigarettes are safer than smoking cigarettes were more likely to use e-cigarettes in the past 30 days.
* The study found that AYAs who believed that e-cigarettes are not harmful to their health were more likely to use e-cigarettes in the past 30 days.
* The study found that adolescents aged 13 to 17 years old were less likely to have used an e-cigarette in the past 30 days compared with young adults aged 22 to 24 years old.

Main Message:
The study highlights the importance of AYA's perceptions of e-cigarette-related health risks in determining e-cigarette use. The study suggests that prevention programs and public health messages should aim to inform AYAs about the health-related risks of e-cigarettes and modify their perceptions in order to reduce e-cigarette use. Specifically, the study suggests that prevention messaging should aim to modify attitudes and perceptions of susceptibility and severity of e-cigarette-related health risks, such as respiratory problems and COVID-19, in order to reduce e-cigarette use among AYAs.

Gaiha SM, Epperson AE, Halpern-Felsher B. Youth perceptions of e-cigarette-related risk of lung issues and association with e-cigarette use. Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association. 2022;41(6):417-422. doi:10.1037/hea0001146