Prevalence and characteristics of e-cigarette users among the current smokers and ex-smokers population in Malaysia

• Main Authors: Ho, Bee Kiau, Nik Mohamed, Mohamad Haniki, Ab Rahman, Jamalludin, Draman, Samsul, Kartiwi, Mira, Ab Rahman, Norny Syafinaz, Md Haris Robson, Noor Zurani, Chan, Caryn Mei Hsien, Lim, Kuang Hock, Baharom, Nizam, Ismail, Norliana, Tee, Guat Hiong, Ling, Miaw Yn, Wei, Lei Hum
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malaysia Medical Association 2017
• Subjects: R Medicine (General)
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/58982/12/58982-Prevalence%20and%20characteristics%20of%20e-cigarette%20users.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/58982/; http://www.e-mjm.org/2017/v72s1/72.pdf
• Institution: Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia

Data are limited on the extent and characteristics of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) use among smokers and ex-smokers. The objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence of e-cigarette use, socio-demographic and smoking characteristics associated with current e-cigarette use among smokers and ex-smokers population in Malaysia. METHODS: This was an analysis of secondary data from a cross-sectional national population based e-cigarette study conducted in May and June 2016 throughout Malaysia. The details description of the sampling methods was described in National E-cigarette Survey (NECS) 2016 report. Briefly, data were obtained from the 1396 ever smokers i.e., 957 (68.6%) current smokers and 439 (31.4%) ex-smokers from this survey. RESULTS: Current e-cigarette use was found predominantly among current smokers (8.0%) as compared with ex-smokers (4.3%). Among current smokers, the reason for smoking e-cigarette was mainly wanting to try (44.7%), followed by intention to quit tobacco smoking (15.8%), to reduce tobacco smoking (10.5%), to replace tobacco smoking (7.9%) and to reduce cost of smoking (6.6%). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in term of reasons for initiating e-cigarette. By using multiple logistic regressions analysis, we found that among current smokers, current e-cigarette users were more likely to be younger i.e., 18-44 years (aOR 4.83, 95%CI 1.97-11.86, p=0.001), urban residents (aOR 1.89, 95%CI 1.15-3.11, p=0.012), single/ divorced/ widowed (aOR 2.11, 95%CI 1.24-3.61, p=0.006) and student (aOR 2.25, 95%CI 1.01-5.01, p=0.048).