Hostname: page-component-cb9f654ff-rkzlw Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-09-02T11:54:16.021Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Perceptions and attitudes towards vaping among adults attending otolaryngology clinics: a questionnaire study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2025

Yahya Dakri ,
Shruti Darak ,
Ryan Bushell  and
Aaron Trinidade Open the ORCID record for Aaron Trinidade [Opens in a new window]
Yahya Dakri
Affiliation:
Anglia Ruskin University Medical School, Chelmsford, UK
Shruti Darak
Affiliation:
Anglia Ruskin University Medical School, Chelmsford, UK
Ryan Bushell
Affiliation:
Anglia Ruskin University Medical School, Chelmsford, UK
Aaron Trinidade*
Affiliation:
Anglia Ruskin University Medical School, Chelmsford, UK Southend Hospital, Mid & South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, Southend-on-Sea, UK
*
Corresponding author: Aaron Trinidade; Email: aaron.trinidade@nhs.net
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objectives

This study aimed to assess vaping prevalence, motivations and risk perceptions among adults attending ENT clinics in the East of England.

Methods

A survey was conducted with 284 adults (aged ≥18), gathering data on demographics, vaping habits, awareness of health risks and attitudes towards regulation.

Results

A total of 24 per cent reported vaping, particularly among those aged 18–25 years and the unemployed (p = 0.027). The main motivation was smoking cessation (49 per cent), followed by stress relief and social factors. Vapers perceived vaping as less harmful, while 60 per cent of non-vapers considered it “very harmful.” Awareness of risks was low, especially among younger adults and the unemployed, with 83 per cent lacking sufficient information. Non-vapers (84 per cent) supported stricter regulations.

Conclusion

Vaping is currently a poorly defined health risk. There is a need for targeted education on vaping risks and enhanced regulation, particularly within ENT settings. Further research is required to explore vaping’s health impacts on ENT health.

Keywords

e-cigarettesmoking cessationvaping

Information

Type
Main Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , First View , pp. 1 - 8
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of J.L.O. (1984) LIMITED.

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

Footnotes

Aaron Trinidade takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

References

Use of e-cigarettes (vapes) among-adults-in-Great-Britain. In: https://ash.org.uk/uploads/Use-of-e-cigarettes-among-adults-in-Great-Britain-2023.pdf [19 November 2024]Google Scholar
Martinelli, T, Candel, MJJM, De, Vries H, Talhout, R, Knapen, V, Van Schayck, CP, et al. Exploring the gateway hypothesis of e-cigarettes and tobacco: a prospective replication study among adolescents in the Netherlands and Flanders. Tob Control 2023;32:170–8Google Scholar
Legislation.gov.uk. The Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/507/contents [19 Nove- mber 2024]Google Scholar
Giovacchini, CX, Crotty Alexander, LE, Que, LG. Electronic cigarettes: a pro–con review of the current literature. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 2022;10:2843–51Google Scholar
Hellyer, P. Dual use of vapes and cigarettes. Br Dent J 2024;237:414Google Scholar
Hartmann‐Boyce, J, McRobbie, H, Bullen, C, Begh, R, Stead, LF, Hajek, P. Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2016;9:CD010216Google Scholar
Kosmider, L, Cox, S, Zaciera, M, Kurek, J, Goniewicz, ML, McRobbie, H, et al. Daily exposure to formaldehyde and acetaldehyde and potential health risk associated with use of high and low nicotine e-liquid concentrations. Sci Rep 2020;10:6546Google Scholar
Szukalska, M, Szyfter, K, Florek, E, Rodrigo, JP, Rinaldo, A, Mäkitie, AA, et al. Electronic cigarettes and head and neck cancer risk—current state of art. Cancers (Basel) 2020;12:3274Google Scholar
Yimsaard, P, McNeill, A, Yong, H-H, Cummings, KM, Chung-Hall, J, Hawkins, SS, et al. Gender differences in reasons for using electronic cigarettes and product characteristics: findings from the 2018 ITC Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey. Nicotine Tob Res 2021;23:678–86Google Scholar
Unemployed more likely to smoke and risk heart health. In: https://www.bhf.org.uk/what-we-do/news-from-the-bhf/news-archive/2013/september/smoking-habits [19 November 2024]Google Scholar
Debbaneh, P, Dhir, S, Anderson, M, Rivero, A. Electronic cigarettes: a narrative review and cohort study of electronic cigarette users in the otolaryngology clinic. Perm J 2022;26:85–93Google Scholar
Foulds, J, Veldheer, S, Berg, A. Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs): views of aficionados and clinical/public health perspectives. Int J Clin Pract 2011;65:1037–42Google Scholar
Kumral, TL, Saltürk, Z, Yildirim, G, Uyar, Y, Berkiten, G, Atar, Y, et al. How does electronic cigarette smoking affect sinonasal symptoms and nasal mucociliary clearance? B-ENT 2016;12:17–21Google Scholar
Nicotine vaping in England: 2022 evidence update main findings. In:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nicotine-vaping-in-england-2022-evidence-update/nicotine-vaping-in-england-2022-evide- nce-update-main-findings [19 November 2024]Google Scholar
Jackson, SE, Tattan-Birch, H, Brown, J. Trends in where people buy their vaping products and differences by user and device characteristics: a population study in England, 2016–23. Addiction: 2023;120:539–48Google Scholar
Taking our breath away: why we need stronger regulation of vapes. bma-vape-report-v5.pdf. In: https://www.bma.org.uk/media/gibk2p2y/bma-vape-report-v5.pdf [19 November 2024]Google Scholar
Soule, E, Bansal-Travers, M, Grana, R, McIntosh, S, Price, S, Unger, JB, et al. Electronic cigarette use intensity measurement challenges and regulatory implications. Tob Control 2023;32:124–9Google Scholar
Berry, KM, Fetterman, JL, Benjamin, EJ, Bhatnagar, A, Barrington-Trimis, JL, Leventhal, AM, et al. Association of electronic cigarette use with subsequent initiation of tobacco cigarettes in US youths. JAMA Netw Open 2019;2:e187794Google Scholar
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. E-cigarette use among youth and young adults. A report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health; 2016:13–14Google Scholar
Golan, R, Muthigi, A, Ghomeshi, A, White, J, Saltzman, RG, Diaz, P, et al. Misconceptions of vaping among young adults. Cureus 2023;15:e38202Google Scholar
Fadus, MC, Smith, TT, Squeglia, LM. The rise of e-cigarettes, pod mod devices, and JUUL among youth: factors influencing use, health implications, and downstream effects. Drug Alcohol Depend 2019;201:85–93Google Scholar
JC, Parnham, Vrinten, C, Cheeseman, H, Bunce, L, Hopkinson, NS, Filippidis, FT, et al. Changing awareness and sources of tobacco and e-cigarettes among children and adolescents in Great Britain. Tob Control 2024;33:e199–207Google Scholar
Wilson, C, Tellez Freitas, CM, Awan, KH, Ajdaharian, J, Geiler, J, Thirucenthilvelan, P. Adverse effects of E-cigarettes on head, neck, and oral cells: a systematic review. J Oral Pathol Med 2022;51:113–25Google Scholar
Amanian, A, Phulka, J, Hu, AC. Unintended side effects of electronic cigarettes in otolaryngology: a scoping review. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2023;168:7–13Google Scholar