Do Young People Vape Because They Want to Quit Smoking? Exploring the Reasons that Triggered E-cigarette Initiation among Young Adults in Perak, Malaysia
E-cigarette is a device that was invented as an alternative to tobacco cigarette. Often time, the use of the device is associated with approaches to harm reduction and smoking cessation, hence vaping is generally perceived as better than smoking. Not only e-cigarette is perceived as less harmful to the users but being non-combustible also suggests that there is a thin chance for second-hand smoker’s effect, giving it more reasons to be celebrated than to be condemned. In attempt to understand the extent e-cigarette is used to quit smoking and to function as a substitute for tobacco cigarette, this study had explored the reasons that triggered e-cigarette initiation among young adults in Malaysia. Using qualitative method, a total of 10 undergraduate students from a private university in Perak were interviewed about their vaping behaviour. These students majored in different courses and their age range was from 21 to 25 years old. The data was analysed using thematic analysis method and Atlas.ti was utilised to transcribe the interviews, to generate codes as well as themes. The findings showed that the informants reported multiple reasons that triggered e-cigarette initiation and nine themes were generated out of the analysis process including curiosity; e-cigarette features; convenience; follow trend; reduce or cease smoking; earn money; reduce smoking expanses; safer alternative; and favourable odour.