title: [Knowledge of electronic cigarettes and their perceived harmfulness among the adult population in Barcelona (Spain)].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe knowledge of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and their perceived harmfulness in the population of Barcelona in 2013-2014.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used participants from a longitudinal study of a representative sample of the adult population in the city of Barcelona (n=736). The field work was conducted between May 2013 and February 2014.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Awareness of e-cigarette was 79.2%. The average level of knowledge was 4.4 points out of 10; there were statistically significant differences according to age, educational level, tobacco consumption, and nicotine dependence. Most participants had learned about e-cigarettes through traditional media (57.8%). Nearly half (47.2%) of the participants believed that e-cigarettes are less harmful than conventional cigarettes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Advertising of e-cigarettes in the media should be regulated because there is still scarce scientific evidence about the usefulness and harmful effects of these devices.
authors.affiliation: Tobacco Control Unit, Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Institut Català d'Oncologia, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; Cancer Prevention and Control Group, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; Biostatistics Unit, Department of Basic Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Spain. Electronic address: jmmartinez@iconcologia.net.
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Martínez-Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Tobacco Control Unit, Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Institut Català d'Oncologia, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; Cancer Prevention and Control Group, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Clinical Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Tobacco Control Unit, Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Institut Català d'Oncologia, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; Cancer Prevention and Control Group, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Clinical Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Addictions Unit, Institute of Neurosciences, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona - IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Montse
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ballbè
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics Unit, Department of Basic Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Martín-Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Cancer Prevention and Control Group, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; Health Plan Directorate, Ministry of Health, Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Public Health, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Esteve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Saltó
authors.affiliation: Tobacco Control Unit, Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Institut Català d'Oncologia, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; Cancer Prevention and Control Group, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Clinical Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Esteve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fernández
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000329:Advertising; D000368:Aged; D004522:Educational Status; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D014505:Urban Population; D000072137:Vaping / Q000009:adverse effects
keywords: Advertisement; Awareness; Cigarrillo electrónico; Conocimiento; Cross-sectional study; Electronic cigarettes; Estudio transversal; Publicidad; e-cigarettes; e-cigarrillo