Korean J Fam Pract.  2023 Dec;13(4):211-217. 10.21215/kjfp.2023.13.4.211.

Effect of Electronic Cigarette and Heated Tobacco Product Use on Smoking Cessation Plans among Korean Adults: The 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019–2020)

• Do HY
• Sim M
• Kim D
• Suh YS
• Hong SW

• KMID: 2549643
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.21215/kjfp.2023.13.4.211

Abstract

Background
The number of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette, EC) and heated tobacco product (HTP) users in Korea is increasing. Although many users intend to quit smoking, the association between EC or HTP use and smoking cessation has not been clearly proven. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of EC or HTP use on smoking cessation.
Methods
This study used data from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The association between sociodemographic variables and smoking cessation behaviors according to tobacco type were examined using a chi-squared analysis. A logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the risk of smoking continuation according to tobacco type.
Results
This study found that the risk of smoking continuation of EC users was 1.8 times higher than that of conventional cigarette (CC) users (odds ratio [OR], 1.760; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.172–2.633). When the regression model was adjusted for confounding variables, the risk of smoking continuation of EC users was 2.1 times higher than that of CC users (OR, 2.062; 95% CI, 1.346–3.157), while the risk of smoking continuation of HTP users was 1.5 times higher than that of CC users (OR, 1.498; 95% CI, 1.129–1.989).
Conclusion
The risk of smoking continuation of EC or HTP users was higher than that of CC users, the risk being higher for EC smokers than HTP users. Therefore, there is a need for continuous research on the association between different tobacco types and smoking cessation.

Keyword

Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; Tobacco; Smoking; Smoking Cessation