title: Electronic cigarette use in young people in Great Britain 2013-2014.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The recent growth in the market for electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) has led to concerns over their use by young people. It is therefore important to examine trends in the perception and use of e-cigarettes and conventional cigarettes in this group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two-wave cross-sectional survey design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Young people aged 11-18 in Great Britain were surveyed online by YouGov in 2013 and 2014. Use of e-cigarettes, together with perceived health harms and intention to use were assessed and compared in relation to cigarette smoking history, age and gender.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ever-use of e-cigarettes increased significantly from 4.6% (95% CI 3.8-5.7) in 2013 to 8.2% (95% CI 7.0-9.6) in 2014. Monthly or more use of e-cigarettes increased from 0.9% (95% CI 0.5-1.5) to 1.7 (1.2-2.4), but remained rare in never-smokers at under 0.2%. The proportion of young people who perceived e-cigarettes to be less harmful to users than cigarettes fell from 73.4% (95% CI 71.0-75.8) to 66.9% (95% CI 64.5-69.2), while the proportion who considered e-cigarettes to cause similar levels of harm increased from 11.8% (95% CI 10.0-13.5) to 18.2% (95% CI 16.3-20.1). Of the 8.2% of e-cigarette ever-users in 2014, 69.8% (95% CI 62.2%-77.3%) had smoked a cigarette prior to using an e-cigarette, while 8.2% (95% CI 4.1%-12.2%) first smoked a cigarette after e-cigarette use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A growing proportion of young people in Great Britain believe e-cigarettes are as harmful as smoking tobacco. Use of e-cigarettes by young people is increasing, but is largely confined to those who smoke.
authors: Public Health England, London, United Kingdom; Addictions Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurosciences, King's College London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Brian.Eastwood@phe.gov.uk.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Eastwood
authors: Public Health England, London, United Kingdom.
authors: M J
authors: MJ
authors: Dockrell
authors: Action on Smoking and Health, United Kingdom.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Arnott
authors: Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom; UK Centre for Tobacco & Alcohol Studies, United Kingdom.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Britton
authors: Action on Smoking and Health, United Kingdom.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Cheeseman
authors: Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University College London, United Kingdom.
authors: M J
authors: MJ
authors: Jarvis
authors: Addictions Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurosciences, King's College London, United Kingdom; UK Centre for Tobacco & Alcohol Studies, United Kingdom.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: McNeill
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: E-cigarettes; Great Britain; Young people