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ERIC Number: EJ1156164
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017-Oct
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0268-1153
EISSN: N/A
Adolescents and Young Adults' Perceptions of Electronic Cigarettes as a Gateway to Smoking: A Qualitative Study in Switzerland
Akre, Christina; Suris, Joan-Carles
Health Education Research, v32 n5 p448-454 Oct 2017
Electronic cigarettes (ECs) acting as a gateway to smoking traditional cigarettes (TCs) is a growing public health concern of EC use among youths. To gather the opinions and perceptions of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) on whether and how EC can act as a gateway to smoking TC among youths. A qualitative method included 42 AYAs. Participants identified a significant risk of EC acting as a gateway to TC use, several factors contributing to this phenomenon such as a facilitated transition to smoking or its perception as a harmless toy. Participants considered an even greater gateway threat regarding very young adolescents. A minority did not identify the gateway risk and some believed that it was nicotine-dependent. This potential gateway effect brought forth several recommendations: health professionals should screen adolescents (even very young ones) for EC use and inform consumers of the potential gateway effect; this possible effect should be acknowledged to end the harmless perception many might have; there is an urge for better preventive and regulatory policies directed at protecting adolescents and children who never smoked and support those who have quit.
Oxford University Press. Great Clarendon Street, Oxford OX2 6DP, UK. Tel: +44-1865-353907; Fax: +44-1865-353485; e-mail: jnls.cust.serv@oxfordjournals.org; Web site: http://her.oxfordjournals.org/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Switzerland
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A