Understanding Determinants of Electronic Cigarette and Heated Tobacco Product Use among Young Adults in Lebanon: Prevention and Policy Implications

Sanaa Mugharbil; Malak Tleis; Maya Romani; Ramzi G Salloum; Rima Nakkash

doi:10.3390/ijerph20054273

Understanding Determinants of Electronic Cigarette and Heated Tobacco Product Use among Young Adults in Lebanon: Prevention and Policy Implications

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Feb 28;20(5):4273. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20054273.

Authors

Sanaa Mugharbil¹, Malak Tleis¹, Maya Romani², Ramzi G Salloum^{1

3}, Rima Nakkash^{1

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Health Promotion and Community Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut 11-0236, Lebanon.
² Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut 11-0236, Lebanon.
³ Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
⁴ Global and Community Health Department, College of Public Health, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA.

Abstract

In line with the global trends, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and heated tobacco products (HTPs) have found their way to the Lebanese market. The present study aims to explore the determinants of e-cigarette and HTP use among young adults in Lebanon. Convenience and snowball sampling were used to recruit participants aged 18-30 residing in Lebanon, who were familiar with e-cigarettes products. Twenty-one consenting participants were interviewed via Zoom and the verbatim transcriptions were analyzed thematically. The outcome expectancy theory was used to categorize the results into determinants and deterrents of use. HTPs were viewed by participants as another mode of smoking. The results showed that most participants perceived e-cigarettes and HTPs to be healthier alternatives to cigarettes/waterpipes and to be used as smoking cessation tools. Both e-cigarettes and HTPs were found to be easily accessible in Lebanon; although, in the recent economic crisis, e-cigarettes have become unaffordable. More research is needed to investigate the motivations and behaviors of e-cigarette and HTP users if effective policies and regulations are to be developed and enforced. Furthermore, greater public health efforts need to be made to increase awareness of the harmful impacts of e-cigarettes and HTPs and to implement evidence-based cessation programs tailored to those modes of smoking.

Keywords: HTP; determinants; deterrents; e-cigarettes; qualitative.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems*
Humans
Lebanon
Policy
Smoking
Tobacco Products*
Tobacco Use
Young Adult

Grants and funding

This work was supported by faculty research funds from the American University of Beirut (AUB). The content and findings of this research are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect or align with the official views or position of AUB.