Aims and hypotheses

Electronic-cigarettes (e-cigarettes) hold the potential to hugely reduce the harm caused by smoking, but it is important to determine the factors which lead to their use among young people. Previous cross-sectional research has investigated the prevalence of e-cigarette use among young people (1, 2), but to our knowledge, there have been no longitudinal studies investigating predictors of e-cigarette use.

ALSPAC has collected detailed information about substance use, in particular smoking behaviour. From these data, trajectories of smoking initiation during adolescence have been constructed (3). However, there is currently limited information regarding e-cigarette use. Identifying the pathways into e-cigarette use among young adults is key, given concerns regarding the potential of e-cigarettes to act as a 'gateway' to other, more harmful substances, such as conventional tobacco cigarettes (4). The ALSPAC young people are now between 22 and 23 years old. Therefore, this application is timely as data suggest that peak prevalence of e-cigarette use is in 16-24 and 25-34 year olds (5).

In this project, we aim to collect detailed information from the young people in ALSPAC regarding use of e-cigarettes; specifically frequency of use, demographics of users and dual use with tobacco cigarettes. Using this information, along with the rich data set already available within ALSPAC, we aim to answer the following questions:

1. What biological, social and environmental factors are associated with e-cigarette use in young people?

2. Are e-cigarettes likely to act as a 'gateway' to use of other, more harmful drugs among young people?

3. Is e-cigarette use an effective smoking cessation strategy among young people?

Study design

We will design questions on e-cigarette use to be included in the next annual questionnaire (2015/16) that will be sent to the ALSPAC young people. These data will be linked to previous ALSPAC data, allowing investigation of the biological, social and environmental factors associated with e-cigarette use. We are seeking funding for the data collection from Cancer Research UK (CRUK) have been asked to submit a full application by 22nd January 2015.

We will seek additional funding in the future to send follow up questionnaires, which will allow us to examine the long term implications of e-cigarette use. We would also like to extend this work to investigate e-cigarette use in the ALSPAC mothers and fathers.