title: Electronic Cigarettes: Awareness, Recent Use, and Attitudes Within a Sample of Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Australian Smokers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) awareness, trial of e-cigarettes in the past 12 months, source and perceptions of safety and effectiveness was assessed within a disadvantaged sample of adult Australian smokers receiving welfare aid.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was administered to clients who smoke at two community service organizations in New South Wales, Australia from October 2013 to July 2014. E-cigarette awareness, trial in past 12 months, sources of e-cigarettes and perceptions of the safety and effectiveness of e-cigarettes to help people quit were assessed along with sociodemographic and smoking-related variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 369 participants completed the survey (77% response rate). Awareness and trial of e-cigarettes were reported by 77% (n = 283) and 35% (n = 103) of the sample, respectively. E-cigarettes were most commonly obtained from friends/strangers followed by tobacco shops (tobacconists). Trying e-cigarettes in the past 12 months was significantly associated with positive perceptions of their safety (odds ratio [OR] = 1.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1, 3.1) and effectiveness (OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.1, 3.2). Motivation to quit tobacco smoking was also significantly positively associated with positive perceptions of e-cigarette safety (OR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.1, 1.4) and effectiveness (OR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.0, 1.3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rates of awareness and trial of e-cigarettes within a disadvantaged sample of Australian smokers are comparable to rates found within representative samples of the general Australian population. Previously trying e-cigarettes and higher levels of motivation to quit were associated with more positive perceptions of e-cigarette safety and effectiveness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that socioeconomically disadvantaged smokers are aware of and accessing e-cigarettes in a country with relatively high restrictions covering e-cigarette sale and use.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Callaghan, Australia; Laura.Twyman@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Twyman
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Callaghan, Australia;
authors.forename: Billie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bonevski
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia;
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia;
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bryant
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Coral
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gartner
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Callaghan, Australia;
authors.forename: Ashleigh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guillaumier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*