Table 3 E-cigarette use patterns of study participants
| Â | n (%) or median (IQR) |
|---|---|
Where did you first hear about e-cigarettes | |
 Internet | 1836 (61.2) |
 E-cigarette users’ forums | 720 (24.0) |
 Family/friends | 2086 (69.5) |
 Shops selling e-cigarettes (physical or online) | 1044 (34.8) |
 TV/radio/newspapers | 151 (5.0) |
 Healthcare professionals | 46 (1.5) |
 Do not remember | 76 (2.5) |
E-cigarette duration of use | 20 (12–29) |
E-cigarette frequency of use | |
 Daily | 1415 (47.2) |
 Weekly | 1251 (41.7) |
 Monthly | 245 (8.2) |
 Less than monthly | 89 (3.0) |
E-cigarette device used now | |
 1st generation (cigarette-like) | 1650 (55.0) |
 2nd generation (eGo style) | 1175 (39.2) |
 3rd generation (mechanical mods or variable voltage/wattage devices) | 1204 (40.1) |
 Do not know | 95 (3.2) |
E-cigarette atomizers used now | |
 Prefilled cartomizers | 1260 (42.0) |
 Refillable cartomizers | 501 (16.7) |
 Tank systems with ready to use atomizer heads | 812 (27.1) |
 Tank systems or drippers with rebuildable coils and wicks | 1373 (45.8) |
 Do not know | 96 (3.2) |
E-cigarette device first bought | |
 1st generation (cigarette-like) | 1630 (54.3) |
 2nd generation (eGo style) | 932 (31.1) |
 3rd generation (mechanical mods or variable voltage/wattage devices) | 343 (11.4) |
 Do not know | 95 (3.2) |
E-cigarette atomizer first bought | |
 Prefilled cartomizers | 1279 (42.6) |
 Refillable cartomizers | 332 (11.1) |
 Tank systems with ready to use atomizer heads | 217 (7.2) |
 Tank systems or drippers with rebuildable coils and wicks | 1056 (4.0) |
 Do not know | 116 (3.9) |
In which form do you buy liquids | |
 Prefilled cartridges | 1424 (47.5) |
 Bottles with ready-to-use liquids | 1685 (56.2) |
 Liquid base and flavorings (do-it-yourself) | 692 (23.1) |
Daily liquid consumption | 5 (3–6) |
Nicotine concentration in liquids | 3 (3–6) |
Use of non-nicotine liquids | 602 (20.1) |
Flavors used now | |
 Tobacco | 1887 (62.9) |
 Mint/menthol | 1797 (59.9) |
 Sweet | 618 (20.6) |
 Nuts | 674 (22.5) |
 Fruits | 1152 (38.4) |
 Drinks and beverages | 369 (13.2) |
 Other | 9 (0.3) |
 Do not remember | 8 (0.3) |
Use of at least one non-tobacco/mint flavor | 1780 (59.3) |
Flavors used at e-cigarette use initiation | |
 Tobacco | 1674 (55.8) |
 Mint/menthol | 1272 (42.4) |
 Sweet | 344 (11.5) |
 Nuts | 345 (11.5) |
 Fruits | 776 (25.9) |
 Drinks and beverages | 202 (6.7) |
 Other | 0 (0.0) |
 Do not remember | 10 (0.3) |
Number of different flavors used regularly now | |
 1 | 1034 (34.5) |
 2 | 1511 (50.4) |
 3 | 337 (11.2) |
 4 | 94 (3.1) |
 5 | 13 (0.4) |
 > 5 | 11 (0.4) |
Source of e-cigarette purchase | |
 Online | 1712 (57.1) |
 Department stores | 1061 (35.4) |
 Pharmacies | 243 (8.1) |
 Street shops | 1580 (52.7) |
 Abroad | 846 (28.2) |
 Other | 33 (1.1) |