Investigation of the public perception of electronic cigarettes
| Author(s)
Kimberley Kumalo, Ana Cristina Gomes, Gianpiero Calabrese, Dr Reem Kayyali and Dr Shereen Nabhani-Gebara.
| | Presenter(s) |
Ana Cristina Gomes Kingston University, London | Abstract Up to date e-cigs have ducked the advertising bans imposed to all tobacco products; and broadcasts have in some occasions been perceived as “glamorising smoking and promoting e-cigarettes as a safe new lifestyle choice to young people”. Coupled with the lack of information regarding their safety and quality, there is a potential risk to public health in general terms and a threat to years of anti-smoking campaigns.
The aim of this survey-based study is to investigate the perception of the public in relation to the upcoming regulations, use and safety of e-cigs. The majority (67%) of the 550 respondents reported that currently there is limited amount of information available to the public. E-cigs are perceived to possess a reduced risk in comparison to tobacco cigarettes. People are more inclined to use them as a substitute for tobacco smoking, with a still significant minority of the public admitting to use e-cigs as a surrogate for tobacco in public places where smoking is not allowed.
Future studies are granted on this controversial subject, hopefully clarifying implications regarding their long terms use and usefulness as smoking cessation tools.
| Source of funding: Kingston University, Faculty of Science, Computing and Engineering
| Declaration of interest: None
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