Beliefs on COVID-19 Among Electronic Cigarette Users: Behavioral Responses and Implications for COVID Prevention and E-Cigarette Interventions

ABSTRACT

E-cigarette users? beliefs about COVID-19 may shape their responses to the pandemic and their e-cigarette consumption. A U.S. national cross-sectional survey of 562 e-cigarette users was conducted in April 2020. Participants self-reported nicotine consumption, COVID-19 beliefs, beliefs about e-cigarettes, social distancing, COVID-19 disruptions, cessation considerations, and individual characteristics. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression provided unstandardized, and standardized coefficients. Frequency of e-cigarette use is inversely associated with beliefs COVID-19 is relevant (? = ?0.215). Beliefs e-cigarettes are addictive, harmful, or pose a risk to future health were positively associated with beliefs COVID-19 is relevant (? = 0.171;? = 0.164;? = 0.203), beliefs the media are truthful on COVID-19 (? = 0.133;? = 0.136;? = 0.137), and beliefs e-cigarette users are at greater risk (? = 0.279;? = 0.411;? = 0.447). All three COVID-19 beliefs (COVID relevant;media truthful;and greater risk) were positively associated with social distancing (? = 0.307;? = 0.259;? = 0.115), work disruptions (? = 0.134;? = 0.135;? = 0.130), family disruptions (? = 0.232;? = 0.131;? = 0.164), friendship disruptions (? = 0.214;? = 0.139;? = 0.133), and considerations of quitting (? = 0.250;? = 0.222;? = 0.620). Strong associations between e-cigarette beliefs and COVID-19 beliefs exist. COVID-19 beliefs are associated with behavioral responses, such as social distancing and considerations of e-cigarette cessation. Interventions may be able to leverage COVID-19 beliefs to reduce e-cigarette consumption or promote cessation during the pandemic.