E-cigarette use and associated factors among adults aged 18-44 years in China: Findings from an online survey.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: There needs to be more up-to-date evidence on the prevalence of e-cigarette use among Chinese adults. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of e-cigarette use among adults aged 18-44 years in China. METHODS: Cross-sectional design and convenience sampling were used. The data for this study were obtained from an online survey conducted in mainland China from April to May 2023. The target population was adults aged 18-44 years. Descriptive analysis was employed to report the prevalence of e-cigarette use, while adjusted multivariable logistic regression was performed to examine the association between e-cigarette use and related factors. RESULTS: A total of 4256 participants were included in this study; 12.9% were current e-cigarette users, 5.9% were frequent users, and 7.0% were occasional users. The descriptive analysis results indicated that males and cigarette users had a higher prevalence of e-cigarette use. Multivariable analysis showed that e-cigarette use was significantly associated with female gender (AOR=0.76, 95% CI 0.60-0.96), those aged 25-34 years with monthly income 6000-8999 CNY (AOR=2.01; 95% CI 1.18-3.41), those aged 25-34 years with monthly income ≥9000 CNY (AOR=2.20; 95% CI 1.26-3.82), college or undergraduate degree (AOR=1.91; 95% CI 1.22-3.00), urban residence (AOR=1.72; 95% CI 1.34-2.20), being a current smoker (AOR=3.32; 95% CI 2.64-4.16), perception of harm (AOR=0.66; 95% CI 0.60-0.73), and perception of benefit (AOR=2.31; 95% CI 2.04-2.61). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of current e-cigarette use among adults in China was 12.9% within our sample. In addition to sociodemographic factors, individuals with a higher perception of the harm associated with e-cigarettes were less likely to engage in e-cigarette consumption. Conversely, individuals who perceive the 'benefits' of e-cigarettes more favorably use them. Targeted interventions, such as health education, are recommended to help adults develop a correct understanding of e-cigarettes and lower the prevalence of e-cigarette use.