Prevalence and reasons for use of heated tobacco products among Malaysian adults who smoked: Findings from the 2020 International Tobacco Control Malaysia Survey

Noh MAM 1 , Hairi FM 2 , Nordin ASA 3 , Yee A 4 , Tajuddin NAA 5 , Hasan SI 4 Show all authors , Danaee M 2 , Kamaludin IS 2 , Subramaniyan M 6 , Pravinassh R 4 , Kaai SC 7 , Driezen P 7 , Yan M 8 , Xu SS 8 , Quah ACK 8 , Fong GT 9

Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Nicotine Addiction Research Group, University of Malaya Centre of Addiction Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: alfakri@um.edu.my
  • 2 Nicotine Addiction Research Group, University of Malaya Centre of Addiction Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 3 Nicotine Addiction Research Group, University of Malaya Centre of Addiction Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Department of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 4 Nicotine Addiction Research Group, University of Malaya Centre of Addiction Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 5 Nicotine Addiction Research Group, University of Malaya Centre of Addiction Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Department of Primary Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 6 Nicotine Addiction Research Group, University of Malaya Centre of Addiction Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Department of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 7 Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada; School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
  • 8 Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
  • 9 Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada; School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada; Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Drug Alcohol Depend, 2024 Apr 01;257:111131.
PMID: 38428371 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111131

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: There have been rapid expansions in heated tobacco products (HTPs) outside of Japan and the Republic of Korea. In November 2018, HTPs were first introduced in Malaysia and since then, no studies have been conducted on Malaysians' use of HTPs. This study is the first to examine the prevalence of HTP use and reasons for use among Malaysian adults who smoked cigarettes.

METHODS: Data came from the 2020 ITC Malaysia Survey, a web-based survey of a nationally representative sample of adults who smoked (n=1047) aged 18 and older. They were asked on ever heard of, ever used, and currently using HTPs, and their reasons for using HTPs.

RESULTS: Overall, 25.4% (n= 324; 95% CI:22.3%-28.7%) of Malaysians who smoked reported ever used HTPs with 6.7% (n=85; 95% CI:22.3%-28.7%) were using them daily and 8.1% (n=110; 95% CI:6.4% -10.2%) were using HTPs non-daily. Most of them (57.2%) who dual use were of aged 25-39 and 97.3% were males. Among those who smoked daily, almost half (49.3%) were also using HTP daily. Among those who used HTPs daily and non-daily, curiosity (84.2%, 95% CI:78.4%-90.0%), taste (83.2%, 95% CI:77.3%-89.1%), and appealing technology (78.5%, 95% CI:71.3%-85.6%) were the most reported reasons. Among those who used HTPs daily, curiosity was the top reason (87.9%, 95% CI:78.9%-93.4%), while among non-daily, taste good was the top reason (81.9%, 95% CI:71.9%-88.8%).

CONCLUSIONS: The very high use of HTPs among Malaysians who smoked requires continued public health surveillance that can inform the regulation of these novel tobacco products.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

MeSH terms
Similar publications