Department of Medidicne School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA.
Nicotine Tob Res. 2011 Sep;13(9):860-7. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntr088. Epub 2011 May 12.
Awareness and use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) has increased dramatically. Electronic Nicotine Delivery Devices deliver an aerosol comprised usually of water, propylene glycol and/or glycerin, nicotine, and flavorings. Scant research exists to evaluate the efficacy and safety of such devices, and only one quantitative survey of European users (N = 81) has been published. This qualitative study explores e-cig users' ("vapers") experiences.
Participants attended a convention or club meeting in St. Louis, MO, and were interviewed individually or in small groups. Qualitative methods were used to analyze interview data for both deductive and emergent themes to broad research questions.
Even with a relatively small sample of formal participants (N = 15), there were pervasive themes including the language and culture of vaping; social and informational support among vapers and their use of Internet resources (learning about e-cigs); the learning curve to using e-cigs and the numerous modifications ("mods") available for e-cigs and personal vaporizers; motives and perceived benefits of using e-cigs versus cigarettes including cigarette-like enjoyment, cost, restored sense of taste and smell, and improved breathing and exercise tolerance; rapidly reduced nicotine tolerance and dependence; and a strong interest in e-cig-related research and policy.
The learning curve to using e-cigs has important implications for laboratory tests of these devices with novice users. Similarly, the multiple e-cig options and the use of "mods" create challenges for researchers and policy makers. Transdisciplinary research is urgently needed, and experienced "vapers" are very interested and willing research participants.
电子烟（e-cigs）的认知度和使用率大幅提高。电子尼古丁输送装置输送的气雾剂通常由水、丙二醇和/或甘油、尼古丁和调味剂组成。目前几乎没有研究评估此类设备的疗效和安全性，仅有一项针对欧洲用户（N=81）的定量调查发表。这项定性研究探讨了电子烟使用者（“电子烟民”）的体验。
参与者参加了密苏里州圣路易斯市的一次大会或俱乐部会议，并进行了个人或小组访谈。采用定性方法对访谈数据进行分析，以确定广泛研究问题的演绎和新兴主题。
即使在正式参与者（N=15）样本相对较小的情况下，仍存在普遍主题，包括电子烟的语言和文化；电子烟民之间的社会和信息支持，以及他们对互联网资源（了解电子烟）的使用；使用电子烟和个人蒸气器的学习曲线，以及电子烟和个人蒸气器的众多改装（“改装”）；使用电子烟代替香烟的动机和感知益处，包括类似香烟的享受、成本、恢复的味觉和嗅觉、改善呼吸和运动耐受力；尼古丁耐受性和依赖性迅速降低；以及对电子烟相关研究和政策的强烈兴趣。
使用电子烟的学习曲线对这些设备的新手用户的实验室测试具有重要意义。同样，电子烟的多种选择和“改装”的使用给研究人员和政策制定者带来了挑战。跨学科研究迫在眉睫，经验丰富的“电子烟民”非常感兴趣并愿意成为研究参与者。
