TY - JOUR
T1 - Perceptions of electronic cigarettes among ethno-culturally diverse Latino adults in four US urban centers
AU - Navas-Nacher, Elena L.
AU - Estrella, Mayra L.
AU - Giachello, Aida L.
AU - Payne, Thomas J.
AU - Kandi L, L
AU - Walker,
AU - Hart, Joy L.
AU - Rodriguez, Carlos J.
AU - Groom, Allison
AU - Landry, Robyn L.
AU - Kesh, Anshula
AU - Vu, Thanh Huyen T.
AU - Sears, Clara G.
AU - Tompkins, Lindsay K.
AU - Robertson, Rose Marie
N1 - Funding Information:
The work was supported by NHLBI under [grant #5P50HL120163] to the American Heart Association. A-TRAC provided funding to Northwestern University to conduct this work. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of NIH or FDA. Dr Estrella was supported by a Diversity Supplement from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute for the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos Chicago Field Center [75N92019D00012].
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Objective: The aim of this study was to examine perceptions including knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about e-cigarettes among ethno-culturally diverse Latino adults living in the US, a rapidly growing minority group for which we know little about their e-cigarette perceptions. Design: A total of 25 focus groups with Latinos (n = 180; ages 18–64 years) were conducted in 2014. E-cigarettes users and non-users were recruited via purposive sampling techniques. Participants completed brief questionnaires on sociodemographic factors and tobacco use. Focus group discussions were conducted in English and Spanish, audio-recorded, and transcribed. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis procedures. Results: Participants were of diverse Latino backgrounds. Over one-third (35%) reported current cigarette smoking and 8% reported current e-cigarette or hookah use. Nonsmokers reported experimenting with e-cigarettes and hookah during social occasions. Participants’ perceptions towards e-cigarettes were generally formed in comparison to conventional cigarettes. Perceived benefits of using e-cigarettes included their utility as a smoking cessation aid, higher social acceptability, and lower harm compared to conventional cigarettes. Negative perceptions of e-cigarettes included lower overall satisfaction compared to conventional cigarettes and high content of toxins. Socio-cultural factors (e.g. gender roles, familismo, and simpatía) also influenced perceptions of e-cigarette of study participants. Conclusions: Overall, Latino adults knew relatively little about the potential health risks associated with e-cigarette use. The limited knowledge about and misinformation of e-cigarettes among this rapidly growing minority group have important public health implications. Findings may inform culturally tailored health communication campaigns, which are much needed among underserved US Latino populations in light of low effectiveness of tobacco control and regulatory efforts.
AB - Objective: The aim of this study was to examine perceptions including knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about e-cigarettes among ethno-culturally diverse Latino adults living in the US, a rapidly growing minority group for which we know little about their e-cigarette perceptions. Design: A total of 25 focus groups with Latinos (n = 180; ages 18–64 years) were conducted in 2014. E-cigarettes users and non-users were recruited via purposive sampling techniques. Participants completed brief questionnaires on sociodemographic factors and tobacco use. Focus group discussions were conducted in English and Spanish, audio-recorded, and transcribed. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis procedures. Results: Participants were of diverse Latino backgrounds. Over one-third (35%) reported current cigarette smoking and 8% reported current e-cigarette or hookah use. Nonsmokers reported experimenting with e-cigarettes and hookah during social occasions. Participants’ perceptions towards e-cigarettes were generally formed in comparison to conventional cigarettes. Perceived benefits of using e-cigarettes included their utility as a smoking cessation aid, higher social acceptability, and lower harm compared to conventional cigarettes. Negative perceptions of e-cigarettes included lower overall satisfaction compared to conventional cigarettes and high content of toxins. Socio-cultural factors (e.g. gender roles, familismo, and simpatía) also influenced perceptions of e-cigarette of study participants. Conclusions: Overall, Latino adults knew relatively little about the potential health risks associated with e-cigarette use. The limited knowledge about and misinformation of e-cigarettes among this rapidly growing minority group have important public health implications. Findings may inform culturally tailored health communication campaigns, which are much needed among underserved US Latino populations in light of low effectiveness of tobacco control and regulatory efforts.
KW - Electronic cigarettes
KW - KABs
KW - Latinos
KW - Perceptions
KW - Tobacco use
KW - Vaping
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U2 - 10.1080/13557858.2020.1844155
DO - 10.1080/13557858.2020.1844155
M3 - Article
C2 - 33249917
AN - SCOPUS:85096825422
SN - 1355-7858
VL - 27
SP - 1207
EP - 1221
JO - Ethnicity and Health
JF - Ethnicity and Health
IS - 5
ER -
