Changes in E-Cigarette Perceptions Over Time: A National Youth Tobacco Survey Analysis

Introduction: This multiyear, cross-sectional study explores the changes over time in how U.S. middle- and high-school students perceive the harm and addiction risk of E-cigarettes. Methods: This study analyzed 83,779 participants in the National Youth Tobacco Survey from 2015 to 2019. Associations of survey year with perceived harm and addiction risk of E-cigarettes were assessed using multivariable multinomial logistic regression models, adjusted for sociodemo-graphic characteristics. Results: Smoking decreased over the 5 years (-1.85 percentage points, p=0.07); vaping increased (9.03 percentage points, p<0.01). Perceived harm of both combustible cigarettes and E-cigarettes increased with time. Male, older, and non-White students perceived less harm from smoking or vaping. Perceptions of the addictiveness of E-cigarettes increased over time: 26.31% of students considered E-cigarettes to be more addictive than combustible cigarettes in 2019, compared with 7.26% in 2016. Female and non-White students were more likely to think that E-cigarettes were at least as addictive as combustible cigarettes but also reported less knowledge about them. Conclusions: The perceptions of both harm and addictiveness of E-cigarettes have increased over time, independent of current use. Perceptions vary on the basis of age, sex, race/ethnicity, and current use. Efforts should be made to further educate adolescents about E-cigarettes and to regulate their sale and advertisement. Efforts to reduce the uptake of combustible cigarettes among adolescents have been successful and should be duplicated for E-cigarettes. (C) 2021 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study found that perceptions of harm and addictiveness of E-cigarettes have increased over time among U.S. middle- and high-school students. Differences in perceptions were observed based on gender, age, race/ethnicity, and smoking status. Efforts to educate adolescents about E-cigarettes and regulate their sale and advertisement are needed.