title: E-cigarettes and equity: a systematic review of differences in awareness and use between sociodemographic groups.
abstract: To assess whether electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) awareness, 'ever use' and current use vary significantly between different sociodemographic groups.
  
  
  
  Systematic review.
  
  
  
  Published and unpublished reports identified by searching seven electronic databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE, Global Health, PsycINFO, CINAHL Plus) and grey literature sources.
  
  
  
  Systematic search for and appraisal of cross-sectional or longitudinal studies that assessed e-cigarette awareness, 'ever use' or current use, and included subgroup analysis of 1 or more PROGRESS Plus sociodemographic groups. No geographical or time restrictions imposed. Assessment by multiple reviewers, with 17% of full articles screened meeting the selection criteria.
  
  
  
  Data extracted and checked by multiple reviewers, with quality assessed using an adapted tool developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute.
  
  
  
  Results of narrative synthesis suggest broadly that awareness, 'ever use' and current use of e-cigarettes may be particularly prevalent among older adolescents and younger adults, males, people of white ethnicity and-particularly in the case of awareness and 'ever use'-those of intermediate or high levels of education. In some cases, results also varied within and between countries.
  
  
  
  E-cigarette awareness, 'ever use' and current use appear to be patterned by a number of sociodemographic factors which vary between different countries and subnational localities. Care will therefore be required to ensure neither the potential benefits nor the potential risks of e-cigarettes exacerbate existing health inequalities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, NIHR School for Public Health Research, London, UK.
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hartwell
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, NIHR School for Public Health Research, London, UK.
authors.forename: Sian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, NIHR School for Public Health Research, London, UK.
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Egan
authors.affiliation: Department for Health, University of Bath, UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies (UKCTAS), Bath, UK.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gilmore
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, NIHR School for Public Health Research, London, UK.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petticrew
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001364:Awareness; D004522:Educational Status; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D000072137:Vaping / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Disparities; Electronic nicotine delivery devices; Priority/special populations; Socioeconomic status