Prevalence of use, perceptions of harm and addictiveness, and dependence of electronic cigarettes among adults in Kuwait: A cross-sectional study

Introduction Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have become one of the most common forms of nicotine delivery used by youth and young adults worldwide. Given the lack of epidemiologic data in Kuwait, this study sought to estimate the prevalence of e-cigarette use, assess perceptions of harm and ad...

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Main Authors: Munairah Alshaibani<sup>*<sup/>, Mays Alajmi<sup>*<sup/>, Noura Alabduljalil, Hajar Alajmi, Yousef Alsalem, Danah Aloqab, Hamad Alawadhi, Sara Sayed Ali, Yaqoub Sharhan, Ahmed Alzeeny, Ali H. Ziyab
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: European Publishing 2023-07-01
Series:Tobacco Induced Diseases
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/Prevalence-of-use-perceptions-of-harm-and-addictiveness-and-dependence-of-electronic,163300,0,2.html
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author Munairah Alshaibani<sup>*<sup/>
Mays Alajmi<sup>*<sup/>
Noura Alabduljalil
Hajar Alajmi
Yousef Alsalem
Danah Aloqab
Hamad Alawadhi
Sara Sayed Ali
Yaqoub Sharhan
Ahmed Alzeeny
Ali H. Ziyab
author_facet Munairah Alshaibani<sup>*<sup/>
Mays Alajmi<sup>*<sup/>
Noura Alabduljalil
Hajar Alajmi
Yousef Alsalem
Danah Aloqab
Hamad Alawadhi
Sara Sayed Ali
Yaqoub Sharhan
Ahmed Alzeeny
Ali H. Ziyab
author_sort Munairah Alshaibani<sup>*<sup/>
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have become one of the most common forms of nicotine delivery used by youth and young adults worldwide. Given the lack of epidemiologic data in Kuwait, this study sought to estimate the prevalence of e-cigarette use, assess perceptions of harm and addictiveness of e-cigarettes, measure the level of dependence on e-cigarettes and assess factors associated with dependence level among adults. Methods A cross-sectional study enrolled adults (n=3032, aged ≥18 years) living in Kuwait using a web-based questionnaire. Participants self-reported ever and current (past 30-day) e-cigarette use and self-completed the 10-item Penn State E-cigarette Dependence Index. Associations were evaluated using multinomial logistic regression. Results The prevalence of ever and current e-cigarette use was estimated to be 40.2% (1220/3032) and 29.4% (892/3032), respectively. The prevalence of current e-cigarette use was higher in males compared to females (47.6% vs 14.4%, p<0.001). Relative to cigarette smoking, 40.6% of participants reported that e-cigarettes are less harmful, and 41.8% indicated that e-cigarettes are equally addictive. Among current e-cigarette users (n=892), 84.8% were ascertained to have developed either low, medium, or high dependence. The use of pod-based devices compared to disposable devices was associated with a high dependence level (adjusted odds ratio, AOR=8.56; 95% CI: 4.52–16.22). Conclusions These findings suggest that a large proportion of adults in Kuwait use e-cigarettes, and a considerable proportion of current users have developed dependence. Therefore, such results should alert public health authorities and warrant the development of evidence-based awareness campaigns, policies, and prevention measures to protect and improve the health of people.
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spelling doaj.art-33c40ca2d6a54019be48e21f6b5d2a652023-08-02T09:42:05ZengEuropean PublishingTobacco Induced Diseases1617-96252023-07-0121July11310.18332/tid/163300163300Prevalence of use, perceptions of harm and addictiveness, and dependence of electronic cigarettes among adults in Kuwait: A cross-sectional studyMunairah Alshaibani<sup>*<sup/>0Mays Alajmi<sup>*<sup/>1Noura Alabduljalil2Hajar Alajmi3Yousef Alsalem4Danah Aloqab5Hamad Alawadhi6Sara Sayed Ali7Yaqoub Sharhan8Ahmed Alzeeny9Ali H. Ziyab10https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3099-4424Department of Community Medicine and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, KuwaitDepartment of Community Medicine and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, KuwaitDepartment of Community Medicine and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, KuwaitDepartment of Community Medicine and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, KuwaitDepartment of Community Medicine and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, KuwaitDepartment of Community Medicine and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, KuwaitDepartment of Community Medicine and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, KuwaitDepartment of Community Medicine and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, KuwaitDepartment of Community Medicine and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, KuwaitDepartment of Community Medicine and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, KuwaitDepartment of Community Medicine and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, KuwaitIntroduction Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have become one of the most common forms of nicotine delivery used by youth and young adults worldwide. Given the lack of epidemiologic data in Kuwait, this study sought to estimate the prevalence of e-cigarette use, assess perceptions of harm and addictiveness of e-cigarettes, measure the level of dependence on e-cigarettes and assess factors associated with dependence level among adults. Methods A cross-sectional study enrolled adults (n=3032, aged ≥18 years) living in Kuwait using a web-based questionnaire. Participants self-reported ever and current (past 30-day) e-cigarette use and self-completed the 10-item Penn State E-cigarette Dependence Index. Associations were evaluated using multinomial logistic regression. Results The prevalence of ever and current e-cigarette use was estimated to be 40.2% (1220/3032) and 29.4% (892/3032), respectively. The prevalence of current e-cigarette use was higher in males compared to females (47.6% vs 14.4%, p<0.001). Relative to cigarette smoking, 40.6% of participants reported that e-cigarettes are less harmful, and 41.8% indicated that e-cigarettes are equally addictive. Among current e-cigarette users (n=892), 84.8% were ascertained to have developed either low, medium, or high dependence. The use of pod-based devices compared to disposable devices was associated with a high dependence level (adjusted odds ratio, AOR=8.56; 95% CI: 4.52–16.22). Conclusions These findings suggest that a large proportion of adults in Kuwait use e-cigarettes, and a considerable proportion of current users have developed dependence. Therefore, such results should alert public health authorities and warrant the development of evidence-based awareness campaigns, policies, and prevention measures to protect and improve the health of people.http://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/Prevalence-of-use-perceptions-of-harm-and-addictiveness-and-dependence-of-electronic,163300,0,2.htmlelectronic cigarettesadultsdependenceharmaddictiveness
spellingShingle Munairah Alshaibani<sup>*<sup/>
Mays Alajmi<sup>*<sup/>
Noura Alabduljalil
Hajar Alajmi
Yousef Alsalem
Danah Aloqab
Hamad Alawadhi
Sara Sayed Ali
Yaqoub Sharhan
Ahmed Alzeeny
Ali H. Ziyab
Prevalence of use, perceptions of harm and addictiveness, and dependence of electronic cigarettes among adults in Kuwait: A cross-sectional study
Tobacco Induced Diseases
electronic cigarettes
adults
dependence
harm
addictiveness
title Prevalence of use, perceptions of harm and addictiveness, and dependence of electronic cigarettes among adults in Kuwait: A cross-sectional study
title_full Prevalence of use, perceptions of harm and addictiveness, and dependence of electronic cigarettes among adults in Kuwait: A cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Prevalence of use, perceptions of harm and addictiveness, and dependence of electronic cigarettes among adults in Kuwait: A cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence of use, perceptions of harm and addictiveness, and dependence of electronic cigarettes among adults in Kuwait: A cross-sectional study
title_short Prevalence of use, perceptions of harm and addictiveness, and dependence of electronic cigarettes among adults in Kuwait: A cross-sectional study
title_sort prevalence of use perceptions of harm and addictiveness and dependence of electronic cigarettes among adults in kuwait a cross sectional study
topic electronic cigarettes
adults
dependence
harm
addictiveness
url http://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/Prevalence-of-use-perceptions-of-harm-and-addictiveness-and-dependence-of-electronic,163300,0,2.html
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