title: Prevalence and characteristics of e-cigarette users in Great Britain: Findings from a general population survey of smokers.
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.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre, University College London, UK; UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies. Electronic address: jamie.brown@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre, University College London, UK; UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies; National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training, London, UK.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: West
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre, University College London, UK; UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Beard
authors.affiliation: UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies; National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training, London, UK; Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Michie
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre, University College London, UK; Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Lion
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shahab
authors.affiliation: UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies; Addictions Department, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McNeill
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Cessation; E-cigarettes; Electronic cigarettes; Quitting; Smoking