E-cigarettes and equity: A systematic review of differences in awareness and use between sub-groups
| Author(s)
Greg Hartwell, Matt Egan and Mark Petticrew
| | Presenter(s) |
Greg Hartwell Visiting Research Fellow & Public Health Specialty Registrar, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine | Abstract INTRODUCTION
Despite the rising profile and popularity of e-cigarettes, little is known about their potential to influence health inequalities. Previous reviews in this area have omitted consideration of equity subgroups or adopted a non-systematic approach and missed key studies.
METHODS
Systematic review of academic and grey literature for evidence from any country on differences in awareness and use of e-cigarettes by gender, age, ethnicity and socioeconomic variables, following PRISMA-E guidance.
RESULTS
We have found preliminary evidence that the likelihood of trying e-cigarettes increases with income, whilst awareness of e-cigarettes is associated with higher educational attainment, in contrast to claims made in a recently published review. Reviewed evidence also suggests awareness and usage is socially patterned by gender and ethnicity, with a higher prevalence in male and white participants respectively. Further sub-group analysis, including by age, is being undertaken.
CONCLUSION
In the current absence of long term studies of health effects, this review will provide an early indication of the impact e-cigarettes have on individual behaviours and attitudes, and how this influence is already socially patterned. This is an essential first step towards determining the population impact of e-cigarettes, laying the foundations for effective public health action in this rapidly-developing area.
| Presenter biography Greg Hartwell is a visiting research fellow at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, where he is focusing on e-cigarettes research with a particular interest in issues around inequalities and gateway effects. As a public health specialty registrar, Greg recently spent 18 months with Havering local authority’s public health team, including work to analyse the effectiveness of local smoking cessation services. His previous career within the Department of Health and Cabinet Office covered a range of public health policy roles, including cancer and cardiovascular disease prevention.
| Source of funding: None
| Declaration of interest: None
| | |
|
