RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Over 1 year later: smokers’ EVALI awareness, knowledge and perceived impact on e-cigarette interest
JF Tobacco Control
JO Tob Control
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP tobaccocontrol-2021-057190
DO 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2021-057190
A1 Olivia A Wackowski
A1 Stefanie Kristen Gratale
A1 Michelle Jeong
A1 Cristine D Delnevo
A1 Michael B Steinberg
A1 Richard J O'Connor
YR 2022
UL http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2022/02/27/tobaccocontrol-2021-057190.abstract
AB Objectives The e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) outbreak caused serious lung injuries in over 2800 people in the USA in 2019. By February 2020, most cases were determined as linked with vaping tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), including black market products using vitamin E acetate. This study examined smokers’ EVALI awareness, knowledge and perceived impact on their e-cigarette interest approximately 16 months after its peak.Design Between January and February 2021, we surveyed 1018 adult current smokers from a nationally representative US research panel. Participants were asked if they had heard about EVALI prior to COVID-19, knew its main cause, and if EVALI had impacted their interest in future e-cigarette use.Results Approximately 54% of smokers had heard of EVALI. Among those who had heard of EVALI (n=542), 37.3% believed its main cause was e-cigarettes used to vape nicotine, like JUUL. Fewer (16.6%) thought the main cause was products for vaping marijuana/THC, and 20.2% did not know. About 29% had heard vitamin E acetate was associated with EVALI, and 50.9% indicated EVALI made them less interested in using e-cigarettes in the future. EVALI awareness was significantly associated with e-cigarette risk perceptions (ie, that e-cigarettes are as harmful as smoking).Conclusions Despite the passage of time, considerable lack of knowledge and misperceptions about EVALI remain among those who smoke. Our findings suggest the need for continued efforts to promote better understanding of EVALI and appropriate behavioural and policy responses.