Perspectives on E-Cigarette Cessation among Young Adults Residing in Rural Areas
Mentor 1
Joshua Gwon
Start Date
28-4-2023 12:00 AM
Description
Little is known about perceptions of, barriers and facilitators to electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use and cessation among young adults (YAs, 18-24 years) in rural areas. The objectives of this study were to examine perceptions of ENDS use and document barriers and facilitators to ENDS use cessation among YAs in rural areas, as well as provide population-level implications for future cessation studies. We administered cross-sectional online surveys with YAs living in rural counties of Midwest. A total of 100 individuals responded to the surveys. Descriptive statistics were used to report perceptions of ENDS use, barriers and facilitators to ENDS use cessation, and the content analysis method was used to analyze the answers to an open-ended question regarding perceptions about the ENDS use cessation in the context of rural areas. The identified barriers to ENDS use cessation included advantages of ENDS use, high nicotine dependence, and the perception of ENDS as less harmful than cigarettes. Facilitators to ENDS use cessation included cost, perceived harm of ENDS use, and high confidence in quitting. Participants’ perceptions about ENDS use cessation in the rural context were conceptualized under the themes of (1) exposure to and subsequent initiation of ENDS use, (2) continuation of ENDS use, and (3) prevention and cessation of ENDS use. Population health care providers, tobacco control researchers, public health workers, and policy makers must recognize the barriers and facilitators to YAs’ ENDS use cessation for the successful development of future cessation intervention studies relevant to rural areas.
Perspectives on E-Cigarette Cessation among Young Adults Residing in Rural Areas
Little is known about perceptions of, barriers and facilitators to electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use and cessation among young adults (YAs, 18-24 years) in rural areas. The objectives of this study were to examine perceptions of ENDS use and document barriers and facilitators to ENDS use cessation among YAs in rural areas, as well as provide population-level implications for future cessation studies. We administered cross-sectional online surveys with YAs living in rural counties of Midwest. A total of 100 individuals responded to the surveys. Descriptive statistics were used to report perceptions of ENDS use, barriers and facilitators to ENDS use cessation, and the content analysis method was used to analyze the answers to an open-ended question regarding perceptions about the ENDS use cessation in the context of rural areas. The identified barriers to ENDS use cessation included advantages of ENDS use, high nicotine dependence, and the perception of ENDS as less harmful than cigarettes. Facilitators to ENDS use cessation included cost, perceived harm of ENDS use, and high confidence in quitting. Participants’ perceptions about ENDS use cessation in the rural context were conceptualized under the themes of (1) exposure to and subsequent initiation of ENDS use, (2) continuation of ENDS use, and (3) prevention and cessation of ENDS use. Population health care providers, tobacco control researchers, public health workers, and policy makers must recognize the barriers and facilitators to YAs’ ENDS use cessation for the successful development of future cessation intervention studies relevant to rural areas.
