Perceptions, Knowledge, and Use of Electronic Cigarettes: A Survey of Mental Health Patients

Tobacco smoking is the leading cause of preventable illness and death in the United States. Smoking and mental illness are often comorbid, yet little is known about mental health patients' perceptions, knowledge, and use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). ENDS may be a beneficial short-term intervention to help this group quit smoking. A survey was administered to a sample of patients at an adult outpatient mental health office (N = 109, 45% male, mean age 33). The majority of participants had tried ENDS. Most used ENDS to quit smoking, and believed it was less harmful than smoking. Participants had variable knowledge about ENDS, but few had asked providers for recommendations. They reported providers were not very knowledgeable about ENDS, and were not asking providers for recommendations. ENDS may help mental health patients who have been unable to quit tobacco, but should not be recommended outside of smoking cessation. This survey provides needed information about how ENDS are being used by mental health patients to help guide future recommendations by their healthcare providers when screening for tobacco use.