Environmental influences on E-cigarette use among young people: A systematic review

Zoe Askwith; Josh Grignon; Mariam Ismail; Gina Martin; Louise W McEachern; Jamie A Seabrook; Jason A Gilliland

doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103212

Environmental influences on E-cigarette use among young people: A systematic review

Health Place. 2024 Mar 16:87:103212. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103212. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Zoe Askwith¹, Josh Grignon¹, Mariam Ismail¹, Gina Martin², Louise W McEachern³, Jamie A Seabrook⁴, Jason A Gilliland⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Geography and Environment, Western University, Canada.
² Department of Geography and Environment, Western University, Canada; Faculty of Health Disciplines, Athabasca University, Canada.
³ Department of Geography and Environment, Western University, Canada; Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada.
⁴ Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada; School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Brescia University College, Canada; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, Western University, Canada; Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada.
⁵ Department of Geography and Environment, Western University, Canada; Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, Western University, Canada; Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: heal@uwo.ca.

PMID: 38493658
DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103212

Abstract

E-cigarettes are a popular mode of delivery for nicotine, tobacco and cannabis. The prevalence of vaping among youth is increasing and this review aims to identify features of the neighbourhood environment, e.g., retailers, advertisements, and policies, that are associated with youth vaping. We included 48 studies. Of these, approximately 40% and 60% reported that presence of e-cigarette retailers, and advertisements, was associated with statistically higher odds of e-cigarette use in youth, respectively. Approximately 30% of studies reported that policies affecting e-cigarette availability were associated with statistically lower odds of vaping. Identifying these influential features of the neighbourhood environment will help formulate appropriate policies to reduce e-cigarette use among youth.

Keywords: Adolescent health; Cannabis; E-cigarettes; Nicotine; Tobacco; Vape retailers; Vaping; Vaping advertisements; Vaping policies.

Publication types

Review