School of Public Health

Permanent URI for this communityhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/1633

The collections in this community comprise faculty research works, as well as graduate theses and dissertations.

Note: Prior to July 1, 2007, the School of Public Health was named the College of Health & Human Performance.

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Subject: search.filters.subject.E-cigarettes

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Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    Analyzing the Effect of Vaping Use in Teens: A Literature Review and Proposed Solutions
    (Journal of Student Research, 2021-03-31) Ajayi, Damilola; Fuchs, Bruce; Reiss, Dana
    Teenage vaping is a major public health issue that is emerging globally. This review article examines what influences teens to use electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and vapes, including families, communities, social media, and brand marketing. Nicotine, a common component of e-cigarettes and vapes, is addictive, and teens who are using these products are starting to report negative health outcomes. After a review of the current literature, three recommendations/solutions are proposed to combat this public health issue. As teen e-cigarette use is on the rise, it is clear that the FDA and the federal government need to enforce tougher regulations on e-cigarette and vaping brands, teens need to be properly educated about these products that are on the market, and advertisements for these products need to be regulated.
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    AN INVESTIGATION OF THE PREDICTORS AND PERCEPTIONS OF FLAVORED E-CIGARETTE USE AND LOCAL FLAVORED E-CIGARETTE SALES RESTRICTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES
    (2018) Chen, Cen; Borzekowski, Dina LG; Green, Kerry M; Public and Community Health; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, with appealing flavors are extremely attractive to youth and young adults, and an increase in the prevalence of flavored e-cigarette use among these groups has been observed in recent years. Much remains to be learned about the personal characteristics and individual perceptions of flavored e-cigarette use among young adults, as well as the potential influence of existing flavored e-cigarette sales restrictions on preventing youth use of e-cigarettes. Based on the Social Ecological Model, this study investigated the intrapersonal, community, and public policy factors that play a role in flavored e-cigarette use among youth and young adults in the U.S. This dissertation (1) analyzed secondary data of 12,383 U.S. young adults using the wave 1 and 2 surveys (2013–2014 and 2014–2015) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study; (2) analyzed in-depth interview data collected from 25 young adult cigarette smokers; and (3) examined the content of 121 local flavored e-cigarette sales restrictions. In Study 1, the results show that younger age, female gender, education attainment of high school and above, non-cigarette smoking, and diminished harm perception about e-cigarettes were the prospective predictors of non-tobacco and non-menthol flavored e-cigarette use among young adults. In Study 2, qualitative findings suggest that many young adult cigarette smokers held positive attitudes and beliefs about the role of e-cigarette flavors in smoking reduction. In Study 3, content coding results showed that among all the localities with flavored e-cigarette sales restrictions, 117 (96.7%) applied the restriction to the entire jurisdiction, 11 (9.1%) restricted the sale of menthol flavors, and 16 (13.2%) restricted the sale of flavored e-cigarettes in retail tobacco stores. Compared to the localities that enacted lax restrictions, those with strict or moderate restrictions were more likely to have low adult cigarette smoking prevalence. Findings from this study can help develop interventions and campaign messages to prevent and reduce e-cigarette use among youth and young adults. This study can also be used to inform public health practitioners regarding the strategies to strengthen and expand flavored e-cigarette sales restrictions to curb e-cigarette use among younger generations.
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    The Association Between Electronic Cigarette Use and Cigarette Smoking Behavior Among Young Adults in the United States
    (2015) Coleman, Blair N.; Green, Kerry M; Glover, Elbert D; Public and Community Health; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    The prevalence of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use is rapidly increasing in adults and youth; however, little is known about the public health impact of their use. A debate over e-cigarettes has emerged in the literature; one side recognizes the potential benefit of e-cigarettes as a harm reduction tool, while others argue e-cigarette use may delay or deter smoking cessation due to dual use or increase the risk of initiation of conventional cigarettes among previous nonsmokers. Drawing on the Theory of Planned Behavior, this dissertation focused on attitudes, beliefs, and perceived social norms of e-cigarettes, as well as openness to conventional cigarette smoking among young adult users of the product. Using a mixed methods approach, this dissertation analyzed secondary data from the 2012-2013 National Adult Tobacco Survey (NATS) as well as focus group data collected in five cities across the U.S. to better understand the relationship between e-cigarette use and cigarette smoking among young adults. In Study 1, quantitative analyses found non-cigarette smoking young adults who have tried e-cigarettes were more likely to report openness to cigarette smoking in the future compared to those who have not tried e-cigarettes (AOR= 2.4; 95% CI= 1.7-3.3). In Study 2, qualitative findings suggest that young adult exclusive e-cigarette users were less interested in conventional cigarette smoking, and overwhelmingly described negative aspects to cigarette smoking that appeared to become more salient as a result of their e-cigarette use. In Study 3, focus group participants expressed many positive attitudes towards e-cigarettes, and simultaneously reported a lack of information and knowledge about the products. The relationship between e-cigarette use and cigarette smoking is complex and multifaceted, and influenced by a myriad of individual and social factors. Although quantitative findings suggest young adults who have used e-cigarettes compared to those who have not used e-cigarettes were more likely to report openness to future cigarette smoking, qualitative findings did not support the notion that young adult e-cigarette users (who may have prior experience with cigarette smoking) are open to future cigarette smoking. These findings provide a basis for further exploration of the association between e-cigarette use and cigarette smoking.