Scientific article
OA Policy
English

Throat hit in users of the electronic cigarette: An exploratory study

Published inPsychology of Addictive Behaviors, vol. 30, no. 1, p. 93-100
Publication date2016
Abstract

A cross-sectional survey on the Internet in 2012-2014 was used to study the "throat hit," the specific sensation in the throat felt by users of e-cigarettes. Participants were 1672 current users of e-cigarettes, visitors of Websites dedicated to e-cigarettes and to smoking cessation. It was assessed whether the strength of the throat hit was associated with the characteristics of e-cigarettes and e-liquids, modifications of the devices, patterns of use, reasons for use, satisfaction with e-cigarettes, dependence on e-cigarettes, smoking behavior, and perceived effects on smoking. The strongest throat hit was obtained by using better-quality models and liquids with high nicotine content. Those who reported a "very strong" throat hit used liquids with 17.3 mg/mL nicotine, versus 7.1 mg/mL for those reporting a "very weak" hit (p < .001). The strength of the throat hit was also associated with ratings of dependence on e-cigarettes, and with the perceived efficacy of e-cigarettes to relieve craving for tobacco and to facilitate smoking cessation. All the variables assessing satisfaction with e-cigarettes were associated with a stronger throat hit. From a public health perspective, there is a trade-off between e-cigarette models that provide high levels of nicotine, a strong throat hit, high satisfaction, and more effects on smoking, but may also be addictive, and models than contain less nicotine and are less addictive, but produce a weaker throat hit, are less satisfactory, and are possibly less efficient at helping people quit smoking. This trade-off must be kept in mind when regulating e-cigarettes.

Keywords
  • Electronic cigarette
  • E-cigarette
  • Electronic nicotine delivery devices (ENDS)
  • Electronic cigarette
  • Nicotine
  • Smoking
Citation (ISO format)
ETTER, Jean-François. Throat hit in users of the electronic cigarette: An exploratory study. In: Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 2016, vol. 30, n° 1, p. 93–100. doi: 10.1037/adb0000137
Main files (1)
Article (Published version)
accessLevelPublic
Identifiers
Journal ISSN0893-164X
257views
346downloads

Technical informations

Creation09/19/2019 11:26:00 AM
First validation09/19/2019 11:26:00 AM
Update time03/15/2023 6:23:02 PM
Status update03/15/2023 6:23:02 PM
Last indexation10/31/2024 4:54:36 PM
All rights reserved by Archive ouverte UNIGE and the University of GenevaunigeBlack