Health Indicator Report of Electronic Cigarettes

Data Source

Utah Data: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Office of Public Health Assessment, Utah Department of Health

Data Interpretation Issues

The Prevention Needs Assessment (PNA) is conducted in odd years with Utah students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12. The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey is conducted with a representative sample of non-institutionalized Utah adults living in households with a landline telephone. In 2010, the BRFSS added cell phone interviews to the survey protocol and introduced a new weighting methodology that better represents populations of low socioeconomic status. More details about these changes can be found at: http://health.utah.gov/opha/publications/brfss/Raking/Raking%20impact%202011.pdf. Due to these changes survey results from the years before 2010 are not comparable to results observed in 2010 or later. The 2010 estimated adult smoking rate was higher compared to rates from previous years that were based on post-stratification by age, sex, and local health district. As with all telephone surveys, data may be subject to error as resulting from non-coverage (e.g., lower telephone coverage among some low SES populations), non-response (e.g., refusal to participate in the survey or answer specific questions), or measurement (e.g. social desirability or recall bias). Interviewer training and monitoring and strict adherence to good survey research protocols reduces error from these sources.

Definition

Youth experimentation with electronic cigarettes: percentage of students in grades 8, 10, 12 who have used electronic cigarettes in their lifetime. Current use of electronic cigarettes among youth: percentage of students in grades 8, 10, 12 who have used electronic cigarettes in the past 30 days. Current use of electronic cigarettes among adults: percentage of adults (age 18+) who currently use electronic cigarettes every day or some days.

Numerator

Youth experimentation with electronic cigarettes: number of students in grades 8, 10, and 12 who have used electronic cigarettes in their lifetime. Current use of electronic cigarettes among youth: number of students in grades 8, 10, and 12 who have used electronic cigarettes in the past 30 days. Current use of electronic cigarettes among adults: number of adults (age 18+) who currently use electronic cigarettes every day or some days.

Denominator

Experimentation and current use of electronic cigarettes among youth: number of all students in grades 8, 10, and 12 surveyed. Current use of electronic cigarettes among adults: number of adults (age 18+)

Other Objectives

Currently, HP2020 does not list a specific objective related to electronic cigarettes. TU-3 focuses on reducing the initiation of tobacco use among children, adolescents, and young adults.

How Are We Doing?

The Utah Department of Health and Utah's twelve local health departments worked together to develop an e-cigarette policy statement that outlines Utah's public health concerns and policy priorities to address the growing use of e-cigarettes. The policy statement recommends licensing of e-cigarette retailers as a crucial step toward enforcing youth access laws.

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

At 5.8%, Utah's 2013 rate of current e-cigarette use among youth (grades 8, 10 and 12) reported by the PNA (Prevention Needs Assessment) is higher than the national youth e-cigarette use rate among high school students (4.5%) reported by the 2013 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS). The 2013 rate of e-cigarette use among Utah adults is 4.8% (BRFSS). The U.S. rate is estimated at 2.6%.

What Is Being Done?

The Utah Tobacco Prevention and Control Program works closely with partners to monitor the use of electronic vaping devices among youth and adults and inform the public about the uncertain long-term health effects of e-cigarettes through earned media. In addition, Utah's twelve local health departments are in the process of passing local regulations that will require licensing for e-cigarette manufacturers and/or retailers.

Evidence-based Practices

Evidence based practices for smoking cessation include individual, group, and telephone counseling and use of FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapies and medications.

Available Services

For services and information on tobacco use and quitting visit Utah's online tobacco cessation website waytoquit.org or call the Utah Tobacco Quit Line at 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

Health Program Information

Frequent claims by e-cigarette manufacturers that market e-cigarettes as smoking cessation help have not been verified by studies. For information on quitting tobacco use with proven methods, visit waytoquit.org or call the Utah Tobacco Quit Line at 1-800-QUIT-NOW. To receive more information about tobacco prevention and control programs in Utah, call the Tobacco Free Resource Line at 1-877-220-3466.