Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan.
Clinical Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
PLoS One. 2021 Jan 22;16(1):e0245443. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245443. eCollection 2021.
E-cigarette (EC) use is increasing worldwide. Understanding the practices and perceptions of e-cigarette users and profiling the symptoms they experience is essential for regulating the use of such products. This study aims to investigate the practices and perceptions of e-cigarette users in Jordan and examine the symptoms (e.g. respiratory) they associate with e-cigarette use.
A cross-sectional online survey was conducted to assess EC use and tobacco smoking behaviors and the corresponding health symptoms among EC users in Jordan. EC use expectancies were also assessed using the Short Form Vaping Consequences Questionnaire, which was first translated into Arabic and tested for validity and reliability.
Out of the 400 EC users surveyed, 95.5% were male, 76.2% used nicotine-containing juice, and 56.8% were concurrent tobacco smokers. Further, the participants had a mean age of 28.9 years (±10.2). Among dual EC/cigarette users, 88.6% reported that they tried to quit cigarette smoking, with e-cigarette use being the most commonly tried method of smoking cessation. The smoking-related symptoms reported by regular cigarette smokers mainly included sputum production (77.5%). The participants reported that using e-cigarettes instead of tobacco cigarettes had led to improvements in their sputum production (60.8%), breathing (59%), and general wellbeing (52%). Pleasant taste, enjoyable taste sensation, and flavor were significantly stronger (P-value < 0.05) among e-cigarette users compared to dual users. Dual EC/cigarette users reported stronger perceptions in the negative consequences scale, particularly with regards to the hazardous effects of smoking on health (P-value < 0.05).
Dual daily use of e-cigarettes and regular cigarettes is a common practice among EC users. We recommend that further research is conducted on dual EC/cigarette use and the potential health risks this may have (e.g. higher nicotine intake as compared to the single use of either products).
电子烟（EC）在全球范围内的使用正在增加。了解电子烟使用者的实践和看法，并分析他们所经历的症状，对于规范此类产品的使用至关重要。本研究旨在调查约旦电子烟使用者的实践和看法，并研究他们与电子烟使用相关的症状（例如呼吸道）。
我们进行了一项横断面在线调查，以评估约旦 EC 用户的 EC 使用和吸烟行为以及相应的健康症状。还使用短期电子烟后果问卷评估了 EC 使用预期，该问卷首先被翻译成阿拉伯语，并进行了有效性和可靠性测试。
在接受调查的 400 名 EC 用户中，95.5%为男性，76.2%使用含尼古丁的烟液，56.8%为同时吸烟的烟民。此外，参与者的平均年龄为 28.9 岁（±10.2）。在双重 EC/香烟使用者中，88.6%报告说他们试图戒烟，而电子烟使用是最常尝试的戒烟方法。经常吸烟的人报告的与吸烟有关的症状主要包括咳痰（77.5%）。参与者报告说，使用电子烟代替香烟导致他们的咳痰（60.8%）、呼吸（59%）和整体健康状况（52%）得到改善。与双重使用者相比，电子烟使用者在报告中表示，电子烟具有更令人愉快的味道、口感和风味（P 值<0.05）。双重 EC/香烟使用者在负面后果量表中的看法更强，特别是在吸烟对健康的危害方面（P 值<0.05）。
双重日常使用电子烟和香烟是 EC 用户的常见做法。我们建议进一步研究双重 EC/香烟使用及其可能带来的健康风险（例如，与单一使用任何一种产品相比，摄入更高的尼古丁）。
