Awareness and determinants of electronic cigarette use among Finnish adolescents in 2013: a population-based study.
BACKGROUND
A wide range of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are now on the market. We studied e-cigarette awareness and use, determinants and sources of e-cigarettes, the e-liquids used in them and exposure to e-cigarette advertisements among adolescents in Finland. Among smokers, we studied the association of e-cigarette use and interest in smoking cessation.


METHODS
Data were obtained from a national survey of 12-18-year-old Finnish adolescents in 2013 (N=3535, response rate 38%). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were used.


RESULTS
Of the respondents, 85.3% knew what e-cigarettes were; 17.4% had tried them. E-liquids with nicotine were used most often (65.7%); also those who had never tried conventional cigarettes had used them. Of e-cigarette ever users, 8.3% had never tried smoking. Parents' high level of education, being in employment, and intact family protected against children's e-cigarette use. In the final model, daily smoking (OR 41.35; 95% CI 25.2 to 67.8), snus use (2.96; 2.4-4.0), waterpipe use (2.21; 1.6-3.0), children's vocational education (2.06; 1.4-3.1) and poor school performance (1.92; 1.4-3.0) were associated with e-cigarette experimentation. Those smokers with most experience of e-cigarettes were least likely to consider smoking cessation.


CONCLUSIONS
Awareness and experimentation with e-cigarettes are high among adolescents, especially in older age groups and boys. Nicotine e-liquids are easy to acquire for youth. Having similar risk factors, e-cigarette use seems to follow the model of conventional smoking initiation. Among adolescent smokers, use of e-cigarettes does not clearly relate to interest in smoking cessation. Preventive policies are needed to protect the youth.
School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
Jaana Maarit
JM
Kinnunen
Department of Alcohol, Drugs and Addiction, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
Hanna
H
Ollila
School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
Salma El-Tayeb
Sel-T
El-Amin
School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
Lasse Antero
LA
Pere
School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
Pirjo Liisa
PL
Lindfors
School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, Pitkäniemi Hospital, Nokia, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
Arja Hannele
AH
Rimpelä
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005421:Flavoring Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D040541:Marketing; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D062789:Tobacco Products / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D005421:Flavoring Agents
Electronic nicotine delivery devices; Nicotine; Prevention