title: Gender differences in satisfaction ratings for nicotine electronic cigarettes by first-time users.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nicotine electronic cigarettes (NECs) are becoming increasingly popular as a potentially safer alternative to tobacco but little is known regarding their subjective effects, including possible gender differences.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were New Zealand smokers with no intention to quit (N = 357) and whom had never used an NEC. During an interview in November-December 2012, participants sampled an NEC and rated it and their own-brand tobacco for satisfaction on a 10-point visual analogue scale. Participants were contacted again in February-March 2013 after a 10% increase in the tobacco excise tax on 1 January 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall participants rated NECs 83.3% as satisfying as own-brand tobacco. Females rated NECs more highly than males. Of those who agreed to be re-interviewed (n = 227), 37.8% said they had cut back or made a change in their smoking habit and 7% had quit in February-March 2013. NEC satisfaction ratings predicted changes in smoking habit and reductions in nicotine dependence after controlling for covariates including demographic variables, factory-made vs. roll-your-own tobacco preference, and addiction scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Smokers' first impressions of NECs were very favourable, and were correlated with readiness to change after a tobacco tax increase. NECs appear to be particularly attractive for female smokers, and their use may help to improve the efficacy of nicotine replacement therapy for women.
authors.affiliation: University of Canterbury, Department of Psychology, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand. Electronic address: randolph.grace@canterbury.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Randolph C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Grace
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Bronwyn M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Kivell
authors.affiliation: University of Canterbury, Department of Psychology, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand; Health New Zealand, Ltd., Christchurch, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Murray
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laugesen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Electronic cigarettes; Gender differences; Nicotine dependence; Nicotine replacement therapy; Subjective effects