Abstract Smoking and the use of electronic cigarettes pose a risk of cardiovascular disease. The aim of the study was to analyze the availability of these products for Polish youth. The cross-sectional study was carried out in 2020 on a sample of secondary school students (N = 19241) representative of the Polish population, using the CAWI method. In order to estimate the relationship between the independent variables and the outcome variables, the Bayesian multivariate logistic regression was used in the R program using the brms library. It was observed that there were differences in the factors related to the refusal to sell traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes to Polish youth. The age of adolescents has a more significant relationship (lnBF <2.3) with the refusal to sell them traditional cigarettes (lnBF = 49.65) than e-cigarettes (lnBF = 25.21). Contrary to gender and province of residence, which show a significant relationship only with the refusal to sell e-cigarettes (lnBF = 4.9, lnBF = 3.5). However, they are not related to the refusal to sell traditional cigarettes at all. The amount of expenditure of Polish youth on traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes significantly depends on the size of pocket money (lnBF = 49.39), the type of school attended by young people (lnBF = 12.19) and the province of residence (lnBF = 3). Other factors, such as age, gender or the size of the place of residence, remain irrelevant. Higher pocket money contributes to higher spending on nicotine products ((lnBF = 12.19). It seems that the age of adolescents does not equally limit access to nicotine products, making e-cigarettes more easily available for sale. Action is needed to effectively limit the access of young people to harmful products. Key messages • It seems that the age of adolescents does not equally limit access to nicotine products, making e-cigarettes more easily available for sale. • Action is needed to effectively limit the access of young people to harmful products.
Abstract Identifying predictors of e-cigarette use initiation is important for preventing young persons from becoming smokers. Because of the addictiveness, harmful effects but on the other hand attractiveness and fashion for e-cigarettes among young people, teen use of tobacco related products is a significant public health concern. This study evaluated the determinants of susceptibility to e-cigarette use to both e-cigarettes use and traditional cigarettes in secondary school students in Poland. This study examined a sample of Polish youths aged 13-19 (n = 19241) attending 192 schools, 12 on average in each voivodship. Logistic regression and multivariable logistic regression models were used to calculate crude and adjusted odds ratios. The profile of susceptibility to e-cigarettes use among never e-cigarette users included: pocket money available per month (more than 150 PLN) (OR = 1.7; p = 0.001), 16-17 years old (OR = 1.9; p = 0.001), parental tobacco smoking and e-cigarette usage (OR = 2.0; p = 0.01 and OR = 1.7; p = 0.001 respectively), maternal secondary education (OR = 1.1; p = 0.04) and living in big cities >500 thou. inhabitants (OR = 1.4; p = 0.04). E-cigarette susceptible persons among ever users were similar to never cigarette users in their opinion that e-cigarettes use are less harmful than conventional smoking (OR = 1.6; p = 0.0012) and living with both parents smoking cigarettes (OR = 1.3; p = 0.02). Additionally, the determinants were: female gender (OR = 1.5; p = 0.009) in the age group less than 15 years of age (OR = 1.3; p = 0.007). The results revealed that such basic predictors as: parental smoking and opinion of lower harmfulness of e-cigarettes use are the most important determinants of smoking susceptibility among never or ever e-cigarette users. The intervention should be focused on educating the young people and their parents on the addictiveness and harmful effects of e-cigarette use and smoking. Key messages
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