Determinants of electronic cigarette use among Finnish adults: Results from a population-based survey

Background: Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use is rising in the Western world, but studies from the Nordic countries are lacking. Many countries are implementing policy changes, brought about for example by the 2014 European Tobacco Products Directive, and monitoring e-cigarette use is considered important. The aim of this article is to account for the prevalence of e-cigarette use among the Finnish adult population and to examine correlates of ever use and current use of e-cigarettes prior to some changes in the Finnish regulatory scheme.

Methods: A population-based survey was conducted in 2014. A representative random sample (N = 7000) of Finnish people aged 15-69 years was drawn from the Finnish Population Information System. Data were collected by self-administered anonymous online/postal questionnaire. The response rate was 50% (n = 3485). A multinomial logistic regression model was used to estimate the association between e-cigarette use and different explanatory variables.

Results: Of all participants, 2% were current and 12% were ever users of e-cigarettes. Younger age and current or previous tobacco use increased the odds for both current and ever use of e-cigarettes when compared with never users. Unemployment and lower education were associated with current e-cigarette use and being a student was associated with ever use of e-cigarettes.

Conclusions: The current use of e-cigarettes in the adult population is low in Finland, having at least tried is more common. Both types of e-cigarette use are concentrated to groups considered to be more vulnerable, such as younger people and those with a lower socioeconomic position. Further monitoring of e-cigarette use is needed in view of Finland's aim to become nicotine and tobacco free by 2030.