Table 5 Content analysis thematic results, by tobacco use trajectory

Liked

n items = 181

n items = 55

n items = 103

n items = 23

Clean/smell

42 (23.2%)

18 (32.7%)

19 (18.4%)

5 (21.7%)

Convenience

35 (19.3%)

9 (16.4%)

22 (21.4%)

4 (17.4%)

Health

21 (11.6%)

11 (20.0%)

9 (8.7%)

1 (4.3%)

Cost

16 (8.8%)

2 (3.6%)

11 (10.7%)

3 (13.0%)

Taste

22 (12.2%)

5 (9.1%)

14 (13.6%)

3 (13.0%)

Subjective effects

11 (6.1%)

2 (3.6%)

9 (8.7%)

0 (0.0%)

Cravings/cessation

12 (6.6%)

5 (9.1%)

5 (4.9%)

2 (8.7%)

Nothing

3 (1.7%)

0 (0.0%)

0 (0.0%)

3 (13.0%)

Social

9 (5.0%)

0 (0.0%)

8 (7.8%)

1 (4.3%)

Use anywhere^a

10 (5.5%)

3 (5.5%)

6 (5.8%)

1 (4.3%)

Helped

n items = 129

n items = 38

n items = 75

n items = 16

Self-regulation/motivation

34 (26.4%)

11 (28.9%)

20 (26.7%)

3 (18.8%)

Nothing/NA

19 (14.7%)

1 (2.6%)

11 (14.7%)

7 (43.8%)

Cravings/cessation

8 (6.2%)

4 (10.5%)

4 (5.3%)

0 (0.0%)

Health

10 (7.8%)

1 (2.6%)

7 (9.3%)

2 (12.5%)

Convenience

11 (8.5%)

5 (13.2%)

5 (6.7%)

1 (6.3%)

Social

6 (4.7%)

3 (7.9%)

2 (2.7%)

1 (6.3%

Cost

7 (5.4%)

4 (10.5%)

2 (2.7%)

1 (6.3%)

Program support

9 (7.0%)

2 (5.3%)

7 (9.3%)

0 (0.0%)

Practice^b

13 (10.1%)

4 (10.5%)

9 (12.0%)

0 (0.0%)

Subjective experience^b

1 (0.8%)

1 (2.6%)

0 (0.0%)

0 (0.0%)

Flavor^a

7 (5.4%)

1 (2.6%)

5 (6.7%)

1 (6.3%)

Smell^a

2 (1.6%)

1 (2.6%)

1 (1.3%)

0 (0.0%)

Other^a

2 (1.6%)

0 (0.0%)

2 (2.7%)

0 (0.0%)

Not liked

n items = 125

n items = 33

n items = 76

n items = 16

Nothing

40 (32.0%)

17 (51.5%)

22 (28.9%)

1 (6.3%)

Side effects (coughing/harshness)

30 (24.0%)

5 (15.2%)

16 (21.1%)

9 (56.3%)

Mechanical issues—pods

12 (9.6%)

2 (6.1%)

9 (11.8%)

1 (6.3%)

Inconvenience^b

7 (5.6%)

1 (3.0%)

5 (6.6%)

1 (6.3%)

Shape^b

4 (3.2%)

2 (6.1%)

2 (2.6%)

0 (0.0%)

Taste^b

3 (2.4%)

0 (0.0%)

2 (2.6%)

1 (6.3%)

Learning to use^b

1 (0.8%)

1 (3.0%)

0 (0.0%)

0 (0.0%)

User issues^a

8 (6.4%)

1 (3.0%)

7 (9.2%)

0 (0.0%)

Mechanical issues—battery^a

8 (6.4%)

3 (9.1%)

4 (5.3%)

1 (6.3%)

Comparability^a

7 (5.6%)

0 (0.0%)

6 (7.9%)

1 (6.3%)

Nicotine exposure^a

4 (3.2%)

1 (3.0%)

2 (2.6%)

1 (6.3%)

Cost^a

1 (0.8%)

0 (0.0%)

1 (1.3%)

0 (0.0%)

Difficult

n items = 117

n items = 33

n items = 68

n items = 16

Side effects

32 (27.4%)

4 (12.1%)

20 (29.4%)

8 (50.0%)

Nothing

48 (41.0%)

20 (60.6%)

24 (35.3%)

4 (25.0%)

Comparability

10 (8.5%)

1 (3.0%)

8 (11.8%)

1 (6.3%)

Other

3 (2.6%)

1 (3.0%)

2 (2.9%)

0 (0.0%)

Taste^b

2 (1.7%)

0 (0.0%)

1 (1.5%)

1 (6.3%)

Readiness to quit^b

2 (1.7%)

0 (0.0%)

2 (2.9%)

0 (0.0%)

Strength/nicotine intensity^b

2 (1.7%)

1 (3.0%)

1 (1.5%)

0 (0.0%)

Mechanical issues—pods^b

1 (0.9%)

0 (0.0%)

1 (1.5%)

0 (0.0%)

Learning to use^b

1 (0.9%)

1 (3.0%)

0 (0.0%)

0 (0.0%)

User issues^a

6 (5.1%)

1 (3.0%)

3 (4.4%)

2 (12.5%)

Craving for Cigarettes^a

6 (5.1%)

2 (6.1%)

4 (5.9%)

0 (0.0%)

Social^a

3 (2.6%)

2 (6.1%)

1 (1.5%)

0 (0.0%)

Cost^a

1 (0.9%)

0 (0.0%)

1 (1.5%)

0 (0.0%)