The Characteristics of Electronic Cigarette User among Korean Smokers: The Sixth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2013-2015

Youn A Kim; Jiwon Lee; Jeonghyo Kim; Jaeyeol Kim; Young-Jin Ko; Soyeun Kim

doi:10.21215/kjfp.2019.9.4.324

Korean J Fam Pract 2019; 9(4): 324-330 https://doi.org/10.21215/kjfp.2019.9.4.324

The Characteristics of Electronic Cigarette User among Korean Smokers: The Sixth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2013-2015

Youn A Kim, Jiwon Lee, Jeonghyo Kim, Jaeyeol Kim, Young-Jin Ko, Soyeun Kim*

Department of Family Medicine, Korean Cancer Center Hospital, Seoul, Korea

Soyeun Kim
Tel: +82-2-970-2285, Fax: +82-2-970-2114
E-mail: freesia799@naver.com
ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5214-1839

Received: April 19, 2018; Revised: March 17, 2019; Accepted: May 20, 2019; Published online: August 20, 2019.

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract: Background: Although the electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) market is growing rapidly, few studies have been conducted on e-cigarettes in South Korea. This study aims to analyze the general characteristics of Korean adult smokers with e-cigarette use.
Methods: This study used data from the 6th National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANS). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine subjects’ general characteristics and a questionnaire related to smoking cessation, stress perception, and depression. A frequency analysis of reasons for using e-cigarettes was conducted of 318 subjects of the 2015 NHANS who were smokers and used e-cigarettes.
Results: The study found that smokers with experience using e-cigarettes were younger and had a higher income level (odds ratio [OR], 1.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03–2.05) than smokers without e-cigarette experience. Professional, management, and office worker groups were associated with e-cigarette use (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.10–1.77). Willingness to quit smoking was also higher in subjects with experience using e-cigarettes (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.09–1.68). The most common reason for smoking cessation in both groups was concern about their own and their family’s health. About 50% of smokers with experience using e-cigarettes thought e-cigarettes would be more helpful for smoking cessation than regular cigarettes.
Conclusion: Although the safety and rationale of using e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid are unproven, many smokers consider them a method of smoking cessation. It is necessary to provide correct information on e-cigarettes.; Keywords: Electronic Cigarettes; E-Cigarettes; Smoking Cessation; Cigarette Smoking

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