E-cigarette use among Asian Americans: a systematic review.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Behavioral Science
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use is rising among diverse populations in the United States.
• Asian Americans, a significant minority group, have understudied e-cigarette usage trends.
• Existing research lacks comprehensive data on this demographic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize existing literature on e-cigarette use among Asian Americans over the past two decades.
• To identify knowledge gaps regarding prevalence, patterns, and correlates of e-cigarette use in this population.
• To highlight the need for more nuanced research on Asian American e-cigarette behaviors.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review following PRISMA guidelines.
• Searched major academic databases: PsycINFO, PubMed, Sage Journals Online, ScienceDirect, and SpringerLink.
• Analyzed 40 relevant articles focusing on e-cigarette use in Asian Americans.

Main Results:

• Most reviewed studies reported only prevalence rates and regional variations in e-cigarette use among Asian Americans.
• Identified significant between- and within-group differences across racial/ethnic categories needing further investigation.
• A notable lack of data exists concerning health outcomes and predictors of e-cigarette use in Asian Americans.

Conclusions:

• Despite increasing popularity, Asian American e-cigarette use and its associated factors remain poorly understood.
• Further research with refined study designs and analytical methods is crucial to understand subgroup differences.
• Nuanced studies are essential to inform targeted public health interventions for Asian Americans regarding e-cigarette use.