How do the various media types and vape shops impact the perception of e-cigarettes use and harm in Malaysia?

• Main Authors: Wee, Lei Hum, Chan, Caryn Mei Hsien, Tee, Guat Hiong, Draman, Samsul, Kartiwi, Mira, Ab Rahman, Norny Syafinaz, Ho, Bee Kiau, Md Haris Robson, Noor Zurani, Nik Mohamad, Mohamad Haniki, Ab Rahman, Jamalludin
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English
• Published: Malaysia Medical Association 2017
• Subjects: R Medicine (General)
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/58909/1/58909_How%20do%20the%20various%20media%20types.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/58909/
• Institution: Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia

The popularity of e-cigarettes over conventional cigarettes is important to examine e-cigarette perceptions as to some why current cigarette smokers make a switch, while some do not. The objective of this study is to examine current smokers' perceptions on e-cigarette use following exposure to information derived from media and vape shop messages promoting its use and harm. Methods: The current cross-sectional study is part of a national prevalence study on electronic cigarettes. The focus of this paper is on the perceptions of current adult male smokers towards e-cigarettes. A total of 922 male current smokers (smoking conventional cigarettes and /or e-cigarettes) aged 18 years and above were recorded using face-to-face interviews. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between media exposure and e-cigarette perceptions. Results: About half of the respondents were within the age 25 - 44 years old. About one third of the respondents reported they had ever-used electronic cigarettes (29.1%). Current male smokers who visited a vape shop and exposed to information about the dangers of smoking e-cigarette were four times more likely to perceive that people reacted more positively to e-cigarettes users than that to tobacco smokers (OR=4.09; p=0.011; CI=1.38-12.12). Current smokers who are exposed to social media or the internet in both messages promoting the use of e-cigarettes and about the harmfulness of the use are more likely to perceive that the urge to smoke is reduced by using e-cigarettes (OR=1.66; p=0.013; CI=1.112.49; OR=1.65; p=0.015; CI=1.10-2.48) respectively. Discussion: Finding from this study presents one of the first ever to identify the different types of media influencing the perceptions of current smokers on e-cigarettes use in Malaysia.