Abstract
Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) conventions are trade shows held across the globe to promote e-cigarette products and provide a venue for users to socialize. E-cigarette users that attend these events likely represent the most intensive e-cigarette user group. No study has characterized addiction and behavior characteristics in this population. We surveyed 131 e-cigarette users attending a large Southeastern e-cigarette convention in Fall 2015. All questions from the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), select questions from the Penn State Electronic Cigarette Dependence Index, and novel user behavior questions were included. In total, 25 questions were included in the survey. FTND scores were calculated for each respondent who answered all six FTND questions (n = 117). Fisher’s Exact Chi square test was used to assess the relationship between addiction and behavior characteristics and FTND scores. Most respondents were classified as moderately dependent (score 5–7, 45.3% of respondents). Length of use, waking at night to use an e-cigarette, strength of cravings, strength of urges over the past week, and frequency of visiting e-cigarette blogs were significantly associated with FTND scores. E-cigarettes users have average FTND scores higher than tobacco smokers. Scores were not significantly associated with prior tobacco cigarette use. Characteristics associated with tobacco smokers’ nicotine addiction, such as waking at night to smoke and strength of cravings experienced, are relevant to e-cigarette users. E-cigarettes do not contain the magnitude of toxicants in tobacco cigarettes, but e-cigarettes may produce new chemical exposures evidenced by the adverse health effects reported by some respondents.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the e-cigarette convention organizers for allowing us to complete this study in their venue. We would also like to thank the survey respondents for their participation.
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This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
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JJ designed the survey, collected the data, analyzed the data, and drafted the initial manuscript. JM assisted in survey design, data analyses, and the initial draft of the manuscript. SLR assisted in the data analyses and reviewed the initial draft of the manuscript. LPN, XY, and JSW reviewed and revised the manuscript. All authors approved the final manuscript.
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Johnson, J.M., Muilenburg, J.L., Rathbun, S.L. et al. Elevated Nicotine Dependence Scores among Electronic Cigarette Users at an Electronic Cigarette Convention. J Community Health 43, 164–174 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-017-0399-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-017-0399-3