Older Smokers' Beliefs About e-Cigarettes and Intent to Quit Conventional Cigarettes

• Published in: Journal of gerontological nursing Vol. 44; no. 12; p. 17
• Main Authors: Goldberg, Rachel L, Dankiewicz, Cheryl, Cataldo, Janine K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-12-2018
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Attitude to Health; Cross-Sectional Studies; Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems - statistics & numerical data; Female; Health Behavior; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Smokers - psychology; Smokers - statistics & numerical data; Smoking Cessation - psychology; Smoking Cessation - statistics & numerical data; Surveys and Questionnaires; United States; United States
• ISSN: 0098-9134
• DOI: 10.3928/00989134-20181018-01

To explore associations between older smokers' attitudes and beliefs about electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and tobacco use behavior, descriptive and correlational analysis of a cross-sectional survey of a random national sample of current smokers (age ≥45 years [considered "older" herein]) was performed. Of 498 older smokers, 75% wanted to quit smoking cigarettes and 60% had tried e-cigarettes. The 108 current e-cigarette users believed e-cigarettes help quit cigarettes (p < 0.001), are safer than cigarettes (p = 0.002), and are acceptable to friends (p = 0.010) and family (p = 0.007). Smokers not considering cessation believed friends and family think it is okay to smoke cigarettes (p < 0.001). Among older smokers: (a) most want to quit cigarettes; (b) e-cigarette use is increasing; (c) most believe e-cigarettes are healthier than cigarettes and effective for cessation; and (d) perceived social acceptability modifies tobacco use behavior by influencing initiation and maintenance of conventional cigarette and e-cigarette use. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 44(12), 17-24.].