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Cited by 242Smoking Behavior and CessationSubstance Abuse Treatment and OutcomesConsumer Behavior and Marketing Influence

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Prevalence and characteristics of e-cigarette users in Great Britain: Findings from a general population survey of smokers

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Brown, Jamie, West, Robert, Beard, Emma, Michie, Susan, Shahab, Lion, McNeill, Ann·2014·Addictive Behaviors
DOI 10.1016/j.addbeh.2014.03.009PMC PMC4003532
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: E-cigarettes may be effective smoking cessation aids and their use by smokers has been growing rapidly. It is important to observe and assess natural patterns in the use of e-cigarettes whilst experimental data accumulates. This paper reports the prevalence of e-cigarette awareness, beliefs and usage, including brand choice, and characterises the socio-demographic and smoking profile associated with current use, among the general population of smokers and recent ex-smokers. METHODS: Data were obtained from 3538 current and 579 recent ex-smokers in a cross-sectional online survey of a national sample of smokers in Great Britain in November and December 2012. Differences between current and recent ex-smokers in the prevalence of e-cigarette awareness, beliefs and usage were examined and the socio-demographic and smoking profile associated with current use of e-cigarettes was assessed in a series of simple and multiple logistic regressions. RESULTS: Ninety-three percent of current and recent ex-smokers (n=3841) were aware of e-cigarettes. Approximately a fifth (n=884) were currently using e-cigarettes, whilst just over a third (n=1507) had ever used them. Sixty-seven percent of the sample (n=2758) believed e-cigarettes to be less harmful than cigarettes; however, almost a quarter (n=994) remained unsure. Among both current and recent ex-smokers, the most popular reasons for using were health, cutting down and quitting (each >80%) and 38% used the brand 'E-lites'. Among current smokers who were aware of but had never used e-cigarettes, approximately half (n=1040) were interested in using them in the future. Among current smokers, their use was associated with higher socio-economic status (OR=1.48, 95%CI=1.25-1.75), smoking more cigarettes (OR=1.02, 95%CI=1.01-1.03) and having a past-year quit attempt (OR=2.82, 95%CI=2.38-3.34). CONCLUSIONS: There is a near universal awareness of e-cigarettes and their use appears to be common among smokers in Great Britain although a quarter of all smokers are unsure as to whether e-cigarettes are less harmful than cigarettes. E-lites - a brand that delivers a low dose of nicotine - is the most popular. E-cigarette users appear to have higher socio-economic status, to smoke more cigarettes per day and to have attempted to quit in the past year.

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  1. Esterl, 2013, E-cigarettes fire up investors, regulators, Wall Street Journal

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Metadata

Authors
Brown, J., West, R., Beard, E., Michie, S., Shahab, L., & McNeill, A.
Affiliations
  • Cancer Research UK (GB)
  • University College London (GB)
  • King's College London (GB)
Corresponding author
Brown, Jamie
ORCID
Venue
Addictive Behaviors
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2014-06
Volume
39
Issue
6
Pages
1120-1125
ISSN
0306-4603 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.addbeh.2014.03.009
PMC
PMC4003532
OpenAlex
W2041995198
Cited by
242
References
24
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 24 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 29 · 2016: 35 · 2015: 30 · 2014: 11
FWCI
23.34
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Addictive Behaviors (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • UK Society for the Study of Addiction
  • UK Centre for Tobacco & Alcohol Studies
  • UK Clinical Research
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Smoking Behavior and Cessation
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Marketing › Consumer Behavior and Marketing Influence
Keywords
electronic cigarettes, e-cigarette use prevalence, smokers, former smokers, e-cigarette awareness, brand choice, smoking cessation, socioeconomic status, smoking intensity, quit attempts, Great Britain, tobacco control, harm reduction, nicotine dose, smoking cessation aids, tobacco harm reduction
MeSH terms
Adult, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, United Kingdom, Humans, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Male, Socioeconomic Factors, Tobacco Use Disorder, Prevalence, Odds Ratio, Smoking Cessation, Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems

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