title: Adolescents' and Young Adults' Perceptions of Electronic Cigarettes for Smoking Cessation: A Focus Group Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research has shown that adults perceive that electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are effective for smoking cessation, yet little is known about adolescents and young adults' perceptions of e-cigarettes for quitting cigarette smoking. This study describes middle, high school, and college students' beliefs about, and experiences with, e-cigarettes for cigarette smoking cessation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted 18 focus groups (n = 127) with male and female cigarette smokers and nonsmokers in 2 public colleges, 2 high schools, and 1 middle school in Connecticut between November 2012 and April 2013. Participants discussed cigarette smoking cessation in relation to e-cigarettes. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All participants, regardless of age and smoking status, were aware that e-cigarettes could be used for smoking cessation. College and high school participants described different methods of how e-cigarettes could be used for smoking cessation: (a) nicotine reduction followed by cessation; (b) cigarette reduction/dual use; and (c) long-term exclusive e-cigarette use. However, overall, participants did not perceive that e-cigarette use led to successful quitting experiences. Participants described positive attributes (maintenance of smoking actions, "healthier" alternative to cigarettes, and parental approval) and negative attributes (persistence of craving, maintenance of addiction) of e-cigarettes for cessation. Some college students expressed distrust of marketing of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adolescent and young adult smokers and nonsmokers perceive that there are several methods of using e-cigarettes for quitting and are aware of both positive and negative aspects of the product. Future research is needed to determine the role of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation in this population.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT;
authors: Deepa R
authors: DR
authors: Camenga
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT;
authors: Dana A
authors: DA
authors: Cavallo
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT;
authors: Grace
authors: G
authors: Kong
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Department of Psychology, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH.
authors: Meghan E
authors: ME
authors: Morean
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT;
authors: Christian M
authors: CM
authors: Connell
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT;
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Simon
authors: Department of Public Health, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, CT.
authors: Sandra M
authors: SM
authors: Bulmer
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; suchitra.krishnan-sarin@yale.edu.
authors: Suchitra
authors: S
authors: Krishnan-Sarin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D003237:Connecticut / Q000453:epidemiology; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D040541:Marketing / Q000379:methods; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012574:Schools; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009538:Nicotine
references: J Health Commun. 2014;19(5):545-60
references: 24117370
references: JAMA Intern Med. 2014 May;174(5):812-3
references: 24664434
references: Nicotine Tob Res. 2015 Feb;17(2):127-33
references: 25301815
references: Nicotine Tob Res. 2015 Jul;17(7):847-54
references: 25481917
references: Addiction. 2005 Apr;100(4):550-9
references: 15784070
references: Int J Qual Health Care. 2007 Dec;19(6):349-57
references: 17872937
references: Tob Control. 2007 Dec;16(6):e8
references: 18048598
references: Tob Control. 2010 Apr;19 Suppl 1:i51-5
references: 20382651
references: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2010 Aug;19(8):1945-53
references: 20647410
references: J Public Health Policy. 2011 Feb;32(1):16-31
references: 21150942
references: Am J Prev Med. 2011 Apr;40(4):448-53
references: 21406279
references: Am J Prev Med. 2011 Apr;40(4):472-5
references: 21406283
references: Int J Clin Pract. 2011 Oct;65(10):1037-42
references: 21801287
references: Addiction. 2011 Nov;106(11):2017-28
references: 21592253
references: Addiction. 2012 Aug;107(8):1493-500
references: 22229871
references: Am J Public Health. 2012 Nov;102(11):2088-93
references: 22813086
references: Tob Control. 2013 Jan;22(1):19-23
references: 22034071
references: Nicotine Tob Res. 2013 Jan;15(1):267-70
references: 22311962
references: J Adolesc Health. 2013 Feb;52(2):135-6
references: 23332475
references: Am J Prev Med. 2013 Mar;44(3):207-15
references: 23415116
references: Addict Sci Clin Pract. 2013;8:5
references: 23497603
references: Am J Public Health. 2013 May;103(5):923-30
references: 23488521
references: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2013 Sep 6;62(35):729-30
references: 24005229
references: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2013 Nov 15;62(45):893-7
references: 24226625
references: Addict Behav. 2014 Jan;39(1):338-40
references: 24094920
references: Am J Prev Med. 2014 Feb;46(2):175-8
references: 24439352
references: Am J Prev Med. 2014 Apr;46(4):395-403
references: 24650842
references: Tob Control. 2014 Jul;23 Suppl 3:iii3-9
references: 24935895