Factors Associated with Past 12-month Quit Attempt of Electronic Cigarette Use in Malaysian Adults

Relative to quitting cigarette smoking, quitting electronic cigarettes (EC) has been understudied in Malaysia. This study aimed to identify the prevalence and factors associated with an EC quit attempt in the past 12 months. In a cross-sectional online questionnaire survey, adults aged between 18 to 44 years old who had ever used EC were purposively recruited. A perception questionnaire about the benefits, harms and side effects of electronic cigarettes, as well as the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence, Glover-Nilsson Vaping Behavioral Questionnaire, and the Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Scale were self-administered. Crude and adjusted odds ratios were computed using binary logistic regression with past 12-month quit attempt as the dependent. Our study found that more than one-third of our participants (37.0%) had tried quitting EC in the past 12 months. Higher motivation to stop vaping, younger age, younger age at EC use initiation and younger age when starting daily EC use were associated with higher odds of past 12-month quit attempt. Our findings offered insight in profiling EC users that may assist in helping them quit. Health literacy implemented on younger individuals may be key to reduce disparities in terms of education where it comes to stopping EC use.