"I'm bored and I'm stressed": A qualitative study of exclusive smokers, ENDS users, and transitioning smokers or ENDS users in the time of COVID-19.

ABSTRACT: To better understand the various influences of COVID-19 on tobacco use, we examined three different tobacco user groups using qualitative methods. Ten online focus groups with 61 adults from the Atlanta, GA area were held in October-November 2020: four with exclusive smokers (n=16), three with Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) users (dual and exclusive, n=22), and three with transitioning (recently quit or currently quitting) smokers and/or ENDS users (n=23). Exclusive smokers reported smoking more frequently, driven by COVID-19-related stress, time at home, and boredom. They were not motivated to quit during the pandemic, and some considered smoking to be protective against COVID-19. ENDS users reported vaping less, with dual users often increasing their smoking; many were concer

SUBMITTER: Popova L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8522380 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature