title: Expectancies for cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and nicotine replacement therapies among e-cigarette users (aka vapers).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Use of e-cigarettes has been increasing exponentially, with the primary motivation reported as smoking cessation. To understand why smokers choose e-cigarettes as an alternative to cigarettes, as well as to US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)--approved nicotine replacement therapies (NRT), we compared outcome expectancies (beliefs about the results of drug use) for the three nicotine delivery systems among vapers, i.e., e-cigarette users, who were former smokers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Vapers (N = 1,434) completed an online survey assessing 14 expectancy domains as well as perceived cost and convenience. We focused on comparisons between e-cigarettes and cigarettes to determine the attraction of e-cigarettes as a smoking alternative and between e-cigarettes and NRT to determine perceived advantages of e-cigarettes over FDA-approved pharmacotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants believed that e-cigarettes, in comparison to conventional cigarettes, had fewer health risks; caused less craving, withdrawal, addiction, and negative physical feelings; tasted better; and were more satisfying. In contrast, conventional cigarettes were perceived as better than e-cigarettes for reducing negative affect, controlling weight, providing stimulation, and reducing stress. E-cigarettes, compared to NRT, were perceived to be less risky, cost less, cause fewer negative physical feelings, taste better, provide more satisfaction, and be better at reducing craving, negative affect, and stress. Moderator analyses indicated history with ad libitum forms of NRT was associated with less positive NRT expectancies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The degree to which expectancies for e-cigarettes differed from expectancies for either tobacco cigarettes or NRT offers insight into the motivation of e-cigarette users and provides guidance for public health and clinical interventions to encourage smoking-related behavior change.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL; paul.harrell@moffitt.org.
authors.forename: Paul T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Harrell
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL; Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL;
authors.forename: Nicole S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Marquinez
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL; Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL;
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Correa
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL;
authors.forename: Lauren R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Meltzer
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL;
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Unrod
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL;
authors.forename: Steven K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Sutton
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL; Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL; Department of Oncologic Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.
authors.forename: Vani N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL; Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL; Department of Oncologic Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.
authors.forename: Thomas H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Brandon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D009538:Nicotine