Support for e-cigarette policies among smokers in seven European countries: longitudinal findings from the 2016-18 EUREST-PLUS ITC Europe surveys
File(s)
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The 2016 European Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) required Member States (MS) to implement new regulations for electronic cigarettes (ECs). We conducted a longitudinal study to assess changes over 2 years in smokers' support for EC policies and identify predictors of support in seven European countries after TPD implementation. METHODS: Prospective cohort surveys were conducted among adult smokers in Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Spain and England in 2016 (n = 9547; just after TPD) and 2018 (n = 10 287; 2 years after TPD). Multivariable logistic regression models employing generalized estimating equations assessed changes in support for four EC policies, and tested for country differences and strength of key predictors of support. RESULTS: Banning EC use in smoke-free places was supported by 53.1% in 2016 and 54.6% in 2018 with a significant increase in Greece (51.7-66.0%) and a decrease in Spain (60.1-48.6%). Restricting EC/e-liquid nicotine content was supported by 52.2 and 47.4% in 2016 and 2018, respectively, with a significant decrease in England (54.2-46.5%) and Romania (52.5-41.0%). An EC promotion ban was supported by 41.1 and 40.2%. A flavour ban was supported by 33.3% and 32.3% with a significant increase in Hungary (34.3-43.3%). Support was generally higher in Poland, Hungary and Greece vs. England. Support was lower among dual and EC-only users, and low-income smokers. CONCLUSIONS: Smokers in all countries strongly supported banning EC use in smoke-free places and restricting nicotine content after TPD implementation, with no clear trends for changes in policy support.
Date Issued
2020-07-01
Date Acceptance
2020-04-06
Citation
European Journal of Public Health, 2020, 30 (Suppl_3), pp.iii68-iii77
ISSN
1101-1262
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Start Page
iii68
End Page
iii77
Journal / Book Title
European Journal of Public Health
Volume
30
Issue
Suppl_3
Copyright Statement
© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.
This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in European Journal of Public Health following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available online at: https://academic.oup.com/eurpub/article/30/Supplement_3/iii68/5904947
This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in European Journal of Public Health following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available online at: https://academic.oup.com/eurpub/article/30/Supplement_3/iii68/5904947
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32918824
PII: 5904947
Subjects
Adult
Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems
England
Europe
Female
Germany
Greece
Humans
Hungary
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Poland
Policy
Prospective Studies
Romania
Smokers
Smoking Cessation
Spain
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
England
Date Publish Online
2020-09-12