Journal Article

Factors Associated With Electronic Cigarette Users’ Device Preferences and Transition From First Generation to Advanced Generation Devices

Foulds, Jonathan, Yingst, Jessica M., Hrabovsky, Shari, Veldheer, Susan, Nichols, Travis T., Wilson, Stephen J.

2015

Overview

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) are becoming increasingly popular but little is known about how e-cig users' transition between the different device types and what device characteristics and preferences may influence the transition. Four thousand four hundred twenty-one experienced e-cig users completed an online survey about their e-cig use, devices, and preferences. Participants included in analysis were ever cigarette smokers who used an e-cig at least 30 days in their lifetime and who reported the type of their first and current e-cig device and the nicotine concentration of their liquid. Analyses focused on transitions between \"first generation\" devices (same size as a cigarette with no button) and \"advanced generation\" devices (larger than a cigarette with a manual button) and differences between current users of each device type. Most e-cig users (n = 2603, 58.9%) began use with a first generation device, and of these users, 63.7% subsequently transitioned to current use of an advanced generation device. Among users who began use with an advanced generation device (n = 1818, 41.1%), only 5.7% transitioned to a first generation device. Seventy-seven percent of current advanced generation e-cig users switched to their current device in order to obtain a \"more satisfying hit.\" Battery capabilities and liquid flavor choices also influenced device choice. E-cig users commonly begin use with a device shaped like a cigarette and transition to a larger device with a more powerful battery, a button for manual activation and a wider choice of liquid flavors.

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Subject: Adult / Consumer Behavior / Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems - psychology / Equipment Design / Female / Humans / Male / Middle Aged / Nicotine - administration & dosage / Original Investigation / Smoking Cessation - methods / Smoking Cessation - psychology / Smoking Prevention / Surveys and Questionnaires / Tobacco Use Disorder - rehabilitation