Hair, Elizabeth C

Background This study investigates factors associated with electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use and secondhand exposure in vehicles among US youth and young adults. Methods Data were collected from an online panel survey of individuals (N=3482, aged 15–25 years) from July to December 2024. Analyses included those who reported using any tobacco product in the past 30 days and answered items measuring exposure to (N=2600) and/or use of e-cigarettes in vehicles (N=2366). Logistic regression models assessed predictors of e-cigarette use and exposure in vehicles, including demographic, psychosocial and tobacco use characteristics. Results Among all participants, 67.1% reported e-cigarette use in the past 30 days. Of those reporting current e-cigarette use (N=2336), 60.6% reported using their e-cigarette/vape while travelling by car in the past 30 days. Of those who answered the question measuring exposure to e-cigarette use in vehicles (N=2600), 69.3% reported being in a vehicle where someone was using e-cigarettes. Higher nicotine dependence and residence in small metro and non-metro areas were associated with greater odds of using e-cigarettes in vehicles. Just meeting basic expenses or meeting needs with a little left, household tobacco use and residence in small metro areas were associated with greater odds of secondhand e-cigarette exposure. Discussion Public health interventions should place a strong focus on education and increasing public awareness of the health consequences of e-cigarette use in vehicles to protect bystanders from secondhand e-cigarette exposure.

Background Increasing intentions to quit e-cigarettes among youth and young adults can reduce usage rates by making quit attempts more likely. This study assessed the potential impacts of a national media campaign, focused on building knowledge of e-cigarette use risks and cessation resources, on intentions to quit and campaign-targeted beliefs about mental health and quitting. Methods A national sample from a repeated cross-sectional online survey was collected from March 2022 to August 2023, among youth and young adults who reported e-cigarette use in the past 30 days (N=5169). Regression models were used to assess associations between weekly campaign awareness and frequency of exposure on intentions to quit e-cigarette use within the next 6 months and targeted beliefs related to mental health and quitting. Results Participants who were aware of both cessation and knowledge-building messaging were more likely to report intentions to quit e-cigarette use in the next 6 months (OR 1.43, (95% CI 1.21, 1.69)) and agree with quitting-related targeted beliefs (ORs 1.351.63) and a mental health targeted belief scale (b=1.14 (95% CI 0.69, 1.59)), relative those with no messaging awareness. The frequency of exposure to cessation messaging held a dose-response relationship with almost all outcomes. Conclusion Findings suggest that frequency and awareness of messaging that educates about e-cigarette harms to mental health and about cessation resources are associated with higher quitting intentions among young people who use e-cigarettes.