Reasons For Using Electronic Cigarettes: A Systematic Review Of The Literature

Electronic cigarettes are a fairly new invention designed for nicotine use and have a growing prevalence of use worldwide. Additionally, e-cigarettes present a growing public health concern. Given the popularity and potential harmfulness of e-cigarettes, it is important to understand why people use e-cigarettes. Although there have been numerous studies published regarding the reasons why people use e-cigarettes, there has yet to be a comprehensive review specific to that literature. As such, the purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature to answer the following research question: What are the reasons for using e-cigarettes? 84 articles published from 2011 to 2018 were included in the review. The six themes of reasons for use that emerged from the literature included: (1) Quit or reduce tobacco use, (2) Curiosity and novelty, (3) Reduce harm, (4) Convenience and affordability, (5) Positive sensory experiences, and (6) Influence of others. Based upon the themes, the largest number of articles in the review with the top reasons to use e-cigarettes were to quit/reduce tobacco use (44%) and curiosity (31%). The findings from this systematic review have implications for future public health practice, policy, and research.