A recent study published in the Wiley Online Library explores the perceptions of health harms associated with various vaping product features among adults who smoke and/or vape in the United Kingdom. This article provides an in-depth look at the findings from this cross-sectional survey, highlighting which features are believed to contribute to the health risks of vaping.

Study Objectives and Design

Research Goals

The study aimed to:

• Identify which features of vaping products are perceived to contribute to health harms.
• Examine differences in harm perceptions based on smoking/vaping status and relative harm perceptions of vaping versus smoking.

Methodology

This cross-sectional survey was co-designed with adults who smoke/vape and conducted online in November 2022. The survey included a convenience sample of 494 UK adults who smoked and/or vaped. Participants were asked to select any of 15 vaping product features they perceived as contributing to the health harms of vaping.

Key Variables

• Independent Variables: Smoking/vaping status (smoke and vape; vape, formerly smoked; vape, never regularly smoked; smoke, do not currently vape) and relative harm perceptions of vaping compared to smoking (less harmful, equally/more harmful, or don’t know/refused).
• Primary Outcomes: Selection of vaping product features perceived to affect health harms.

Key Findings

Feature Selection

Most respondents (54.7%) selected between one and three features they believed contributed to the health harms of vaping. The features most frequently selected included:

• Nicotine Concentration: 62.2% of participants perceived higher nicotine concentrations as conferring greater harms.
• Amount of E-liquid Consumed: 59.1% identified the volume of e-liquid consumed as a significant factor.
• Nicotine Type: 33.0% noted that nicotine type (salt vs. freebase) contributed to health risks.
• Source/Purchase Location: 25.3% considered where the vaping product was purchased to impact health harms.
• Flavours: 24.7% believed that the flavours used in e-liquids played a role in health risks.
• Temperature to Heat E-liquid: 21.1% identified the temperature at which the e-liquid is heated as a concern.
• Heat Produced by Device: 20.9% thought the heat produced by the device itself contributed to health harms.
• E-liquid Brand: 20.9% selected the brand of e-liquid as a factor.
• Amount of Emissions: 18.6% believed that the emissions produced by the device were harmful.
• Device Type: 17.2% noted that the type of device (disposable, pod, tank) mattered.
• Material of Tank: 17.0% considered the material of the tank important.
• Power/Wattage: 13.0% saw power or wattage as influencing health harms.
• Device Brand: 8.1% selected the brand of the device.
• Device Size: 4.1% and Device Weight: 2.4% were less commonly perceived as harmful features.

Perceptions by Nicotine Features

Higher nicotine concentrations, greater amounts of e-liquid consumption, and salt nicotine (versus freebase nicotine) were perceived to confer more significant health harms. Disposables were also seen as slightly more harmful than reusable devices.

Demographic Differences

There were few significant differences in perceptions based on current smoking/vaping status or relative harm perceptions of vaping versus smoking, after adjusting for age and sex.

Implications for Public Health

The findings indicate persistent misperceptions about the role of nicotine in the health harms of vaping. While higher nicotine concentrations and larger e-liquid volumes are likely contributors, other factors like flavours, temperature, and device type also play roles in these perceptions.

Permanent Effects of Vaping

While this study focused on perceptions, additional research indicates several potential long-term health impacts of vaping:

• Respiratory Issues: Chronic bronchitis and reduced lung function have been associated with long-term vaping.
• Cardiovascular Problems: Increased heart rate and blood pressure, potentially leading to heart disease.
• Addiction: High nicotine levels can lead to dependence and transition to cigarette smoking.
• Neurological Effects: Potential impacts on brain development, especially in younger users.

Source: Wiley Online Library