Vaping and E-Cigarettes: An Emergency Department Survey

To characterise vaping practices and perceptions in a non-consecutive cohort across four Sydney Emergency Departments (EDs) prior to 2024 Australian legislative changes restricting disposable vapes.

An anonymous digital survey of up to 40 questions was conducted from May 2023 to January 2024 in patients and visitors aged > 14 years. It assessed demographics, vaping and smoking practices, perceived addiction, side effects and attitudes. Participants were recruited via posters and distribution of linked QR codes.

Of 1263 surveys initiated, 1049 (83.1%) were completed. Among respondents who answered the vaping-status question 51.1% (614/1202) reported ever vaping with 34.4% (211/614) vaping daily. Respondents were more often able to report the puff count and duration of their most recently purchased device (> 85%) than puffs per day or sessions per day (≈60%). Disposable vapes and fruit/candy flavours were most reportedly used. Addiction and anxiety relief were frequently selected reasons for vaping, and daily vapers reported higher perceived addiction scores. Symptoms occurring during or shortly after vaping were commonly reported, most frequently cough (174/308, 56.5%), breathlessness (165/308, 53.6%) and chest pain (98/308, 31.8%). Daily vapers more commonly perceived vaping as safer than cigarettes (101/198, 51.0% vs. 88/568, 15.5% in never vapers) and as an effective smoking cessation aid (105/197, 53.3% vs. 83/571, 14.5%).

In this multicentre, non-consecutive survey, vaping was commonly reported, particularly among younger respondents, with frequent daily use and perceived addiction. These findings highlight the importance of asking about vaping and awareness of patterns of use, perceived addiction and reported symptoms.