Abstract
Adults living in rural areas, compared to their urban counterparts, are at an increased risk of using tobacco-related products and mortality due to tobacco-related diseases. The harms and benefits of e-cigarette use are mixed, and similarly obscure messaging about these harms and benefits have a critical influence on e-cigarette uptake and perceptions. However, little is known about rural-urban differences in the prevalence of adult e-cigarette daily usage. Using the Health Information National Trends Survey-Food and Drug Administration (HINTS-FDA) cycles 1 and 2, we conducted weighted logistic regressions to assess rural-urban differences in the prevalence of adult e-cigarette daily usage, perceived harm, and e-cigarette information seeking behaviors. This analysis included adults aged 18 years and older in the United States (N = 4229). Both rural and urban respondents reported a similar history of e-cigarette use. Rural respondents were significantly more likely than urban respondents to trust religious organizations and leaders and tobacco companies for information about e-cigarettes. Rural and urban respondents were equally as likely to believe e-cigarettes are addictive, perceive e-cigarette use as harmful, and believe e-cigarettes are more harmful than tobacco cigarettes. Respondents were equally as likely to look for information on e-cigarettes, the health effects of e-cigarettes, and cessation; and, to seek e-cigarette information from healthcare professionals, family and friends, and health organizations and groups. Given our findings, it will be pertinent to continue to research the potential harms of e-cigarette use and develop accurate health communication messages to avoid rural-urban disparities observed for cigarette smoking-related outcomes.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 105898 |
Journal | Preventive medicine |
Volume | 130 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 2020 |
Funding
Editing assistance was provided by InPrint: A Scientific Editing Network at Washington University in St. Louis. This research was supported by T32CA190194 (PI: Colditz/James). Washington University School of Medicine, the Barnes-Jewish Hospital Foundation, and Siteman Cancer Center also supported this research (MLT, ML, LF, & JM). Dr. Khan was supported by the Department of Defense prostate cancer research program (award PC170130). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official view of the NIH. Dr. Han was supported by foundations from Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official view of the NIH. This research was supported by T32CA190194 (PI: Colditz/James). Washington University School of Medicine, the Barnes-Jewish Hospital Foundation, and Siteman Cancer Center also supported this research (MLT, ML, LF, & JM). Dr. Khan was supported by the Department of Defense prostate cancer research program (award PC170130 ). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official view of the NIH. Dr. Han was supported by foundations from Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official view of the NIH.
Keywords
- Electronic nicotine delivery systems
- Health communication
- Information seeking behavior
- Prevalence
- Rural health
- Smoking
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Epidemiology
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health