Trends in electronic cigarette use in Wales
Vera Buss, Loren Kock, Robert West, Emma Beard, Dimitra Kale, Jamie Brown
Updated 16th October 2023
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Background
Electronic cigarette use has become prevalent in many countries
In Wales, electronic cigarettes are currently regulated as consumer products
It is important to track use of electronic cigarettes and assess how far they appear to be promoting or detracting from reduction in prevalence of cigarette smoking
Aims
To track use of electronic cigarettes over time and assess how far any increase is accompanied by changes in:
- use of other aids to cessation or smoking reduction
- key performance indicators for tobacco control (smoking prevalence, smoking cessation rates, attempts to stop smoking, success of attempts to stop smoking
To assess prevalence of use of electronic cigarettes in people who have never smoked regularly or stopped for more than a year
To estimate changes in the total tobacco and nicotine market
Methods
Monthly household surveys
Each month involves a new representative sample (18 and over) of ~300 respondents.
Due to the pandemic, from April 2020 surveys conducted by telephone (rather than face-to-face) and among adults aged 18 and over.
From January 2022 data collection resumed among those aged 16 and over.
Kock et al., (2021). Protocol for expansion of an existing national monthly survey of smoking behaviour and alcohol use in England to Scotland and Wales: The Smoking and Alcohol Toolkit Study. Wellcome Open Research, 6(67), 67.
Summary I
An estimated 8-11% of the adult population in Wales use e-cigarettes
Use of Juul and heated tobacco products is rare
Approximately 1 in 8 long-term ex-smokers (quit >1 year) use e-cigarettes, but use among never smokers is relatively rare
Around half of all EC users are dual users (also smoke)
A smaller proportion of e-cigarette daily users are ‘dual users’ (also smoke)
Summary II
The majority of e-cigarettes used contain nicotine
Ex-smokers use e-liquids with lower concentrations of nicotine compared to smokers. A minority did not know the strength
Specialist vape shops (including online specialist) are the most popular source for purchase
Summary III
Approximately 1 in 4 smokers use e-cigarettes
E-cigarettes are the most popular aid used in a smoking quit attempt
Summary IV
Around 30-40% of smokers believe that e-cigarettes and cigarettes are equally harmful.
Roughly 1 in 4 smokers believe e-cigarettes are more harmful than cigarettes and a similar proportion believe they are less harmful.
