Changes in tobacco use in the early phase of COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong: a qualitative study.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Changes in tobacco use and related personal and environmental factors amid the COVID-19 pandemic can be captured by qualitative studies, but they are few in non-Western populations. We assessed the perceived links between tobacco use and COVID-19, and changes in the use of cigarettes, electronic cigarettes (ECs) and heated tobacco products (HTPs) in the early phase of the pandemic in Hong Kong, where lockdown was not implemented.

Methods

Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted from January to June 2021 in 95 participants (36 EC users, 28 HTP users, 32 exclusive cigarette users). Transcriptions were coded using deductive and inductive approaches, and factors for changes were nested in the social-ecological model.

Results

Two-thirds of participa

SUBMITTER: Zhang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9384294 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature