title: Perception of electronic cigarettes in the general population: does their usefulness outweigh their risks?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe and compare the perceptions of the general population about the harmful effects of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) on users and on those passively exposed to e-cigarettes and the perceptions about e-cigarette usefulness for reducing or eliminating tobacco smoking.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analysed cross-sectional data from a longitudinal study of a representative sample of the general adult (≥16 years) population of Barcelona, Spain (336 men and 400 women). The fieldwork was conducted between May 2013 and February 2014. We computed the percentages, adjusted OR and their corresponding 95% CI among participants with some awareness of e-cigarettes (79.2% of the sample).
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed the perception about harmfulness for e-cigarette users and for passively exposed non-e-cigarette users, as well as the perception of usefulness for smokers of cigarette cessation and reduction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this sample, 40.1% thought that e-cigarettes had a harmful effect on users, and 27.1% thought that e-cigarettes had a harmful effect on passively exposed bystanders (p<0.001). Particularly, more never-smokers perceived that e-cigarettes had harmful effects on passively exposed bystanders than current smokers (34.4% vs 20.6%; OR=1.93, 95% CI 1.02 to 3.63). More people perceived e-cigarettes as being useful for reducing smoking than for quitting (50.6% vs 29.9%, p<0.001), as well as for reducing smoking than as being harmful to users (50.6% vs 40.1%, p=0.044).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The perception that e-cigarettes are useful for reducing tobacco consumption was more prevalent than the perception that e-cigarettes are harmful to users and to those passively exposed to e-cigarettes. Advertisements and messages about the use of e-cigarettes and their harmful effects should be regulated and based on scientific evidence to avoid creating erroneous ideas about their use.
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, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jose 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, School of Medicine, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics Unit, Department of Basic Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Martín-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, School of Medicine, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain Addictions Unit, Institute of Neurosciences, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Montse
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ballbè
authors.affiliation: 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, School of Medicine, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Esteve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fernández
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D013030:Spain; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: EPIDEMIOLOGY; PREVENTIVE MEDICINE; PUBLIC HEALTH