Cessation of E-Cigarette Use Among Adults in Malaysia: Findings from a Nationwide Survey

Authors

  • Muhammad Fadhli Mohd Yusoff Institute for Public Health, National Institute of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Setia Alam, 40170, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Jane Ling Miaw Yn
  • Thamil Arasu Saminathan
  • Jamaluddin Ab Rahman
  • Wan Shakira Rodzlan Hasani
  • Tania Gayle Robert Lourdes
  • Kuang Hock Lim
  • Sumarni Mohd Ghazali
  • Mohamad Haniki Nik Mohamed

Keywords:

electronic cigarette - e-cigarette - quitting e-cigarette - cessation of e-cigarette - Malaysia

Abstract

Introduction

The use of e-cigarettes has increased rapidly around the world including in Malaysia. However, a significant proportion of people who started using e-cigarettes later discontinued using them. The aim of this study is to identify prevalence of former e-cigarette use and factors associated with quitting, among Malaysian adults.

Methods

This study is a part of a national household survey examining the use of e-cigarettes among Malaysian adults aged 18 years and above in 2016. A multistage stratified cluster sampling method was used in the survey. A bilingual (Malay and English) structured questionnaire was used and data was collected via face-to-face interview. Prevalence of current e-cigarette use and former e-cigarette use were determined. A multiple logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with quitting e-cigarettes.

Results

A total of 4,288 adults participated in the survey, where 110 (3.2%) and 289 (8.6%) were identified as current and former e-cigarette users respectively. The following factors were significantly associated with quitting e-cigarette use: e-cigarette users who had no exposure to e-cigarettes at the workplace (aOR = 2.70; 95% CI: 1.39, 5.24); the perception that e-cigarette is more harmful to others compared to tobacco smoke (aOR = 2.46; 95% CI: 1.22, 4.97); and the perception that e-cigarettes do not help people to maintain cigarette abstinence (aOR = 2.19; 95% CI: 1.23, 3.92).

Conclusions

This study contributes to a better understanding of the factors associated with cessation of e-cigarettes. Findings from this study can assist any e-cigarette cessation intervention measures.

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Published

2022-03-04

How to Cite

Mohd Yusoff, M. F., Miaw Yn, J. L., Saminathan, T. A., Ab Rahman, J., Rodzlan Hasani, W. S., Robert Lourdes, T. G., Lim, K. H., Mohd Ghazali, S., & Nik Mohamed, M. H. (2022). Cessation of E-Cigarette Use Among Adults in Malaysia: Findings from a Nationwide Survey. International Journal of Public Health Research, 12(1). Retrieved from https://spaj.ukm.my/ijphr/index.php/ijphr/article/view/354

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 1 (2022): International Journal of Public Health Research

Section

Public Health Research

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