Behavioral intentions assessment of a disposable e‐cigarette among adult current, former, and non‐smokers in the United States

Abstract

AbstractModeling the public health effects of e‐cigarettes requires estimates of the likelihood that different individuals and population subgroups will start using e‐cigarettes and subsequently transition to and from combustible cigarette use. To begin to generate input values for modeling efforts, this study assessed adults' behavioral intentions in relation to a disposable e‐cigarette, “BIDI® Stick.” An online questionnaire assessed intentions to try and use a BIDI® Stick regularly in 11 flavor variants among United States (U.S.) nationally representative samples of adult (21+ years) non‐smokers (n = 2284), current smokers (n = 2391), former smokers (n = 2241), and young adult (21–24 years) non‐smokers (n = 1140) of combustible cigarettes following exposure to product information and images. Current smokers rated their intentions to use a BIDI® Stick to partially or completely replace cigarettes. Positive intention to try a BIDI® Stick at least once was, for each flavor variant, highest among current smokers (22.4%–28.1%), lower among former smokers (6.0%–9.7%) and non‐smokers (3.4%–5.2%), and lowest among never‐smokers (1.0%–2.4%). Among current smokers, former smokers, and non‐smokers, trial and regular use intentions were lowest among e‐cigarette non‐users and e‐cigarette never‐users. Approximately 23.6% of current smokers reported an intention to use a BIDI® Stick in at least one flavor to completely switch from cigarettes and/or to reduce cigarette consumption. Low trial and regular use intentions suggest that U.S. adults who do not currently smoke cigarettes and/or use e‐cigarettes are unlikely to initiate use of the BIDI® Stick e‐cigarette. Trial and regular use intentions are highest among adults who currently smoke cigarettes and/or use e‐cigarettes. A moderate proportion of current smokers may try using a BIDI® Stick e‐cigarette as a partial or complete replacement for combustible cigarettes.