Introduction: E-cigarette price promotions (EPPs; i.e., marketed reductions in cost) may influence young adult cigarette smokers to try, dual use with, or completely transition to e-cigarettes. We assessed whether receiving EPPs was associated with subsequent e-cigarette use among this group.
Methods: Data were from Waves 4 (2016-2018) and 5 (2018-2019) of the nationally representative Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study survey. Analysis was restricted to participants who were young adult (18-34 years) established, current cigarette smokers who did not use e-cigarettes at Wave 4 (baseline; n = 2,664; Sample 1), and a subsample of those who tried to quit smoking completely in the past year at Wave 5 (follow-up; n = 948; Sample 2). Multivariable logistic regressions were used to examine associations between receiving EPPs at baseline and past year use of e-cigarettes in general (Sample 1) and to help quit smoking (Sample 2) at follow-up, controlling for covariates.
Results: Overall, 4.1% and 4.9% of Sample 1 and 2 participants received EPPs, respectively; At follow-up, 33.4% of Sample 1 participants used e-cigarettes, and 12.0% of Sample 2 participants used e-cigarettes to quit smoking. Receiving EPPs was associated with subsequent past-year e-cigarette use in general (AOR = 2.07; 95% CI = 1.31 to 3.27), and past-year e-cigarette use to help with quitting smoking (AOR = 3.20; 95% CI = 1.48 to 6.90).
Discussion: EPPs may increase e-cigarette use among established, current smokers and may be used to quit smoking. Research is needed to understand how EPPs may be differentially associated with complete product transition versus dual/poly use among young adult smokers.
Keywords: Cigarette smoking; E-cigarettes; Harm reduction; PATH study; Price promotions; Smoking cessation; Young adults.
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