Public Support for Electronic Cigarette Regulation in Hong Kong: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Yee Tak Derek Cheung, Man Ping Wang, Sai Yin Ho, Nan Jiang, Antonio Kwong, Vienna Lai and Tai Hing Lam
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Yee Tak Derek Cheung: School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Man Ping Wang: School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Sai Yin Ho: School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Nan Jiang: Department of Population Health, School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY 10016, USA
Antonio Kwong: Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health, Hong Kong, China
Vienna Lai: Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health, Hong Kong, China
Tai Hing Lam: School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 7, 1-12

Abstract: This study aimed to gauge the Hong Kong’s public support towards new e-cigarette regulation, and examine the associated factors of the support. We conducted a two-stage, randomized cross-sectional telephone-based survey to assess the public support towards the banning of e-cigarette promotion and advertisement, its use in smoke-free venues, the sale to people aged under 18, and regulating the sale of nicotine-free e-cigarettes. Adults (aged 15 years or above) who were never smoking ( n = 1706), ex-smoking ( n = 1712) or currently smoking ( n = 1834) were included. Over half (57.8%) supported all the four regulations. Banning of e-cigarette promotion and advertisement (71.7%) received slightly less support than the other three regulations (banning of e-cigarette use in smoke-free venues (81.5%); banning of e-cigarette sale to minors (93.9%); sale restriction of nicotine-free e-cigarettes (80.9%)). Current smokers, and perceiving e-cigarettes as less harmful than traditional cigarettes or not knowing the harmfulness, were associated with a lower level of support. Our findings showed a strong public support for further regulation of e-cigarettes in Hong Kong. Current stringent measures on tobacco and e-cigarettes, and media reports on the harmfulness of e-cigarettes may underpin the strong support for the regulation.

Keywords: electronic nicotine delivery devices; public opinion; public policy; surveillance and monitoring; advocacy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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