title: E-cigarette Use Related to Demographic Factors in Hawai'i.
abstract: E-cigarette use is rapidly expanding in the United States and is projected to be a $3 billion industry by the end of this year. E-cigarette use in Hawai'i is significantly higher than national averages. The goal of this study was to examine the relationship in Hawai'i between demographic characteristics and several aspects of e-cigarette use including percentage of residents trying e-cigarettes, reasons for use, and perceived effects on health. Survey data were collected from a random sample of Hawai'i residents via the telephone in the summer of 2015, using methodology similar to that of the Hawai'i Health Survey. Chi-squared tests found e-cigarette use to be significantly associated with age (P=.001), gender (P=.03), ethnicity (P<.001), and education (P<.001). Among e-cigarette users, 12% said they started smoking regular cigarettes after starting e-cigarettes, 21% said their use of regular cigarettes did not change, 6% said they reduced use of regular cigarettes, and 20% said they completely stopped smoking regular cigarettes. Multivariable logistic regression results suggest Native Hawaiians (OR=29.1,P=.01) and Filipinos (OR=24.3,P=.01) were significantly more likely to report perceived improved health due to e-cigarette use compared to Caucasians. Given existing health disparities for Native Hawaiians and Filipinos, the fact that these groups are significantly more likely than other ethnic/racial groups to report that e-cigarettes improved their health bears notice and highlights the need for additional research in this area.
authors.affiliation: Amherst College, Amherst, MA (JCS).
authors.forename: Jason C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Seto
authors.affiliation: Amherst College, Amherst, MA (JCS).
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Amherst College, Amherst, MA (JCS).
authors.forename: Deborah A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Taira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006254:Hawaii; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000208:ethnology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Electronic cigarettes; Hawai‘i; health disparities; smoking