title: Electronic cigarette: use and perceptions among French military nurses in 2013.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Paramedical personnel are exposed to tobacco smoking. Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) may be considered as a lower-risk substitute for cigarettes. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of e-cigarette use, the motives for use and the perceptions among French military nurses.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey, using self-administered questionnaires, was conducted in 2013 among 300 students and instructors of the French school of military paramedical personnel. Prevalences of e-cigarette use among smokers and nonsmokers were compared using logistic regressions adjusted on age and gender.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of smoking was 40% among the 200 responders. E-cigarette current use prevalence was 25% (6% daily users), without significant difference according to gender and age. Tobacco smokers reported significantly more e-cigarette current use (51% vs7%). Motives for e-cigarette use reported by smokers were curiosity (48%), intention to reduce tobacco consumption (43%) or to quit smoking (8%). Among users of both tobacco and e-cigarettes, 48% reported a significant decrease in tobacco consumption following e-cigarette initiation (average decrease of 5-10 cigarettes smoked per day; p <0.001). Both tobacco smokers and nonsmokers (88%) estimated that e-cigarette use was potentially harmful for health, but it was perceived as less harmful than tobacco by 46%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  E-cigarette use among military nurses follows the trends observed in the general population in terms of prevalence and motives. E-cigarettes, which are seen as an attractive alternative to cigarettes, may contribute to a reduction in tobacco use among healthcare workers.
authors.affiliation: Ecole du personnel paramédical des armées, Toulon, France.
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guillet
authors.affiliation: Centre d'épidémiologie et de santé publique des armées, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sicard
authors.affiliation: Centre d'épidémiologie et de santé publique des armées, Marseille, France, and UMR 912: INSERM-IRD-Université Aix-Marseille, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Baptiste
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Meynard
authors.affiliation: Centre d'épidémiologie et de santé publique des armées, Marseille, France, and UMR 912: INSERM-IRD-Université Aix-Marseille, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Aurélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mayet
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009042:Motivation; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010465:Perception; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult