Association between type of smoking and smoking cessation plans in Korean adults: A nationwide cross-sectional study

Amid the changing tobacco product landscape, the effects of e-cigarettes on smoking cessation remain unclear. This study aims to examine the relationship between different types of smoking (conventional cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and dual use) and smoking cessation plans among adult smokers.

A representative national dataset analysis of KHANES data (2018-2022) was conducted on 1475 current smokers. Current smokers were defined as those who had smoked more than five packs (100 cigarettes) of cigarettes in their lifetime and had smoked in the past 30 days, and type of smoking was classified as conventional cigarette, e-cigarette, or dual use. Smoking cessation plan was classified as 'yes' for smokers who intended to quit within one or six months, and 'no' for those with no plans to quit. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between smoking type and smoking cessation plans, adjusting for potential confounders.

A total of 26.0% of male smokers and 30.7% of female smokers had a smoking cessation plan. Compared with conventional cigarette users, e-cigarette users were less likely to have a smoking cessation plan (Male: AOR=0.52; CI: 0.29-0.91; Female: AOR=0.56; CI: 0.16-1.93). The results indicated no statistical significance in female e-cigarette users. In males, e-cigarette users smoking over 20 packs/year were less likely to have smoking cessation plans (AOR=0.11; 95% CI: 0.03-0.58).

E-cigarette use may have a negative impact on smoking cessation plans in male smokers. The results suggest the importance of public health efforts to provide accurate information and interventions related to e-cigarettes.