{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,29]],"date-time":"2026-10-29T00:17:59Z","timestamp":1793233079515,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":52,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]],"date-time":"2026-09-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790294400000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":86,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Promotion Sant\u00e9 Valais","award":["N\/A"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["N\/A"]}]},{"name":"Directorate-General for Health of the Canton of Vaud","award":["N\/A"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["N\/A"]}]},{"name":"Tobacco Prevention Fund of the Swiss Confederation","award":["N\/A"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["N\/A"]}]},{"name":"University Center for Primary Care and Public Health","award":["N\/A"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["N\/A"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["bmjph"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,11]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,7]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Disposable electronic cigarettes (DECs) have rapidly gained popularity among adolescents and young adults (AYAs), raising public health concerns related to nicotine dependence, exposure to potentially harmful substances and environmental burden. While motivations for e-cigarette use have been explored, little is known about how AYAs perceive and use DECs, in particular within a changing regulatory context such as Switzerland.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objectives<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This qualitative study explored AYA\u2019s knowledge, perceived harms and reasons for DEC use through a developmental lens, to better understand vulnerabilities specific to this age and inform prevention strategies targeting this population.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Eight focus groups were conducted via videoconference between October and December 2022 with 51 participants aged 14\u201325 years living in the Swiss cantons of Vaud and Valais. Discussions were transcribed, anonymised and analysed using a thematic analysis approach.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>While DECs were largely known and consumed, participants had limited and often imprecise knowledge regarding product composition and nicotine content. Perception of harm was heterogeneous and influenced by packaging and insufficient product information. DEC use was primarily described as driven by experimentation, transgression, peer dynamics and identity construction rather than by nicotine effects, although nicotine addiction was sometimes described as a consequence of use. DECs were often described as interchangeable with conventional cigarettes. Accessibility and marketing features such as flavours, design and social media visibility were central to product appeal. Differences in cantonal legislation did not seem to clearly influence perceptions or reported behaviours.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>DEC use among AYAs reflects both developmental vulnerabilities and the influence of targeted marketing strategies. Alongside age restrictions, effective prevention should address product design, marketing and packaging practices, as well as information transparency. Further research on vaping-related harms is needed to inform healthcare professionals, and surveillance of DEC and other tobacco-derived product use following legislative changes will be essential to guide future regulations.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjph-2026-005258","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]],"date-time":"2026-09-25T13:55:12Z","timestamp":1790344512000},"page":"e005258","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Knowledge, perceived harms and reasons for use of disposable electronic cigarettes among youth: a qualitative study in Switzerland"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"4","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7419-4587","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Romaine","family":"Delacr\u00e9taz","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Interdisciplinary Division for Adolescent Health, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois Departement femme-mere-enfant, Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland"},{"name":"Universit\u00e9 de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lorraine","family":"Chok","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Universit\u00e9 de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland"},{"name":"Department of Epidemiology and Health Systems, Center for Primary Care and Public Health, Lausanne, Switzerland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6754-8033","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Luc","family":"Lebon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Universit\u00e9 de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland"},{"name":"Department of Health Promotion and Prevention, Center for Primary Care and Public Health, Lausanne, Switzerland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"J\u00e9r\u00e9my","family":"Cros","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Universit\u00e9 de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland"},{"name":"Department of Health Promotion and Prevention, Center for Primary Care and Public Health, Lausanne, Switzerland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alexandre","family":"Dubuis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Promotion Sant\u00e9 Valais, Sion, Switzerland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7834-7707","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yara","family":"Barrense-Dias","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Universit\u00e9 de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland"},{"name":"Department of Epidemiology and Health Systems, Center for Primary Care and Public Health, Lausanne, Switzerland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Anne-Emmanuelle","family":"Ambresin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Interdisciplinary Division for Adolescent Health, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois Departement femme-mere-enfant, Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1368","DOI":"10.53738\/REVMED.2025.21.925.47397","article-title":"Pr\u00e9vention du tabagisme en Suisse\u202f: 60 ans de progr\u00e8s graduels (1964-2024)","volume":"21","author":"Lebon","year":"2025","journal-title":"Revue M\u00e9dicale Suisse"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e63","DOI":"10.1016\/S2213-2600(22)00187-4","article-title":"From smoking to vaping: a new environmental threat?","volume":"10","author":"Pourchez","year":"2022","journal-title":"Lancet Respir Med"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Golder S , Hartwell G , Barnett LM , et al . Vaping and harm in young people: umbrella review. Tob Control 2025. doi:10.1136\/tc-2024-059219","DOI":"10.1136\/tc-2024-059219"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8","DOI":"10.1136\/tobaccocontrol-2019-055433","article-title":"Is e-cigarette use in non-smoking young adults associated with later smoking? A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"30","author":"Khouja","year":"2020","journal-title":"Tob Control"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/tc-2022-057907"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Delgrande Jordan M , Balsiger N , Schmidhauser V . La consommation de substances psychoactives des 11 \u00e0 15 ans en Suisse \u2013 Situation en 2022 et \u00e9volution dans le temps \u2013 R\u00e9sultats de l\u2019\u00e9tude Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC). Addiction Suisse; 2023.","DOI":"10.58758\/rech154"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1016\/j.lanepe.2024.100924","article-title":"Trends in vaping and smoking following the rise of disposable e-cigarettes: a repeat cross-sectional study in England between 2016 and 2023","volume":"42","author":"Tattan-Birch","year":"2024","journal-title":"Lancet Reg Health Eur"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s12916-015-0339-y","article-title":"E-cigarette use and relations to tobacco and alcohol use among adolescents","volume":"13","author":"Kristjansson","year":"2015","journal-title":"BMC Med"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjph-2023-000763","article-title":"What are the characteristics of disposable electronic cigarettes users in Switzerland? A quantitative study among 14-25 year olds","volume":"2","author":"Chok","year":"2024","journal-title":"BMJ Public Health"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.10","unstructured":"Action on Smoking and Health (UK) . Headline results ASH Smokefree GB adults and youth survey results 2023. 2023. Available: https:\/\/ash.org.uk\/uploads\/Headline-results-ASH-Smokefree-GB-adults-and-youth-survey-results-2023.pdf"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S16","DOI":"10.1002\/mpr.254","article-title":"What are the high risk periods for incident substance use and transitions to abuse and dependence? Implications for early intervention and prevention","volume":"17 Suppl 1","author":"Wittchen","year":"2008","journal-title":"Int J Methods Psychiatr Res"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-024-20731-2","article-title":"Age of tobacco, nicotine and cannabis use initiation in Switzerland: a sequence analysis among adolescents and young adults","volume":"24","author":"Fernandes","year":"2024","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/add.16675"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/add.16596"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/ntr\/ntab165"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Balsiger N , Delgrande Jordan M . Gesundheit und Gesundheitsverhalten von 11-, 13- und 15-j\u00e4hrigen Jugendlichen im Jahr 2022 und Entwicklung \u00fcber die Zeit: Die Schweiz im internationalen Vergleich. Sucht Schweiz 2025.","DOI":"10.58758\/rech176"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/tobaccocontrol-2019-055287"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/tc-2023-057986"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/15248399211045353"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jadohealth.2015.04.002"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2016-013271","article-title":"E-cigarettes, a safer alternative for teenagers? A UK focus group study of teenagers\u2019 views","volume":"6","author":"Hilton","year":"2016","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.22","unstructured":"Flick U . An Introduction to Qualitative Research. 4th edn. Los Angeles: Sage Publications, 2009."},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/jpepsy\/27.1.47"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.24","unstructured":"Chok L , Fernandes-Palhares D , Cros J , et al . Cigarettes \u00e9lectroniques jetables (puffs): une \u00e9tude qualitative sur les opinions des jeunes (14-25 ans) du canton de Vaud et du Valais. Centre Universitaire de M\u00e9decine G\u00e9n\u00e9rale et Sant\u00e9 Publique (Unisant\u00e9) 2023."},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1408","DOI":"10.1093\/ntr\/ntv138","article-title":"Gender Differences in Smoking Behavior and Dependence Motives Among Daily and Nondaily Smokers","volume":"18","author":"Allen","year":"2016","journal-title":"NICTOB"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/136346000003003001"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"464","DOI":"10.1080\/10826084.2021.1879145","article-title":"Knowledge and Perceptions of Tobacco-Related Harm Associated with Intention to Quit among Cigarette Smokers, e-Cigarette Users, and Dual Users: Findings from the US Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Wave 1","volume":"56","author":"Lin","year":"2021","journal-title":"Subst Use Misuse"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugalcdep.2019.05.032"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1389","DOI":"10.1093\/ntr\/ntab007","article-title":"Adolescents and Young Adults Have Difficulty Understanding Nicotine Concentration Labels on Vaping Products Presented as mg\/mL and Percent Nicotine","volume":"23","author":"Morean","year":"2021","journal-title":"Nicotine Tob Res"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/tc-2023-058033"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"181","DOI":"10.53738\/REVMED.2023.19.812.181","article-title":"Nouvelles cigarettes \u00e9lectroniques jetables \u00ab\u202fpuffs\u202f\u00bb\u202f: consensus d\u2019expert-e-s sur leur r\u00e9glementation","volume":"19","author":"Velarde Cr\u00e9z\u00e9","year":"2023","journal-title":"Revue M\u00e9dicale Suisse"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.amepre.2020.12.013"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-025-21897-z","article-title":"The role of sweet\/fruit-flavored disposable electronic cigarettes on early nicotine initiation - a systematic review","volume":"25","author":"Kopa-Stojak","year":"2025","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pmedr.2019.100966","article-title":"Baseline assessment of noticing e-cigarette health warnings among youth and young adults in the United States, Canada and England, and associations with harm perceptions, nicotine awareness and warning recall","volume":"16","author":"Sontag","year":"2019","journal-title":"Prev Med Rep"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/tobaccocontrol-2021-057151"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/tobaccocontrol-2013-051234"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jadohealth.2012.06.003"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.addbeh.2018.02.021","article-title":"Effect of e-cigarette advertisement exposure on intention to use e-cigarettes in adolescents","volume":"82","author":"Stroup","year":"2018","journal-title":"Addict Behav"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s13690-022-00867-6","article-title":"The association of adolescent e-cigarette harm perception to advertising exposure and marketing type","volume":"80","author":"Hung","year":"2022","journal-title":"Arch Public Health"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.dr.2007.08.003"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/her\/16.4.457"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"465","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pop.2014.05.002","article-title":"Adolescent Growth and Development","volume":"41","author":"Chulani","year":"2014","journal-title":"Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"930","DOI":"10.1093\/eurpub\/ckaf126","article-title":"Use and susceptibility of youth aged 13-15 years to cigarettes, e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products: results of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey 2022 in eight Italian regions","volume":"35","author":"Zamagni","year":"2025","journal-title":"Eur J Public Health"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1525","DOI":"10.1093\/ntr\/ntad068","article-title":"What Are the Effective Components of Group-Based Treatment Programs For Smoking Cessation? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis","volume":"25","author":"Mersha","year":"2023","journal-title":"Nicotine Tob Res"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2056305118790762","DOI":"10.1177\/2056305118790762","article-title":"Smoking Selfies: Using Instagram to Explore Young Women\u2019s Smoking Behaviors","volume":"4","author":"Cortese","year":"2018","journal-title":"Social Media + Society"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"422","DOI":"10.1007\/s40429-017-0176-5","article-title":"Gender Differences in U.S. Adolescent E-Cigarette Use","volume":"4","author":"Kong","year":"2017","journal-title":"Curr Addict Rep"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pgph.0004686","article-title":"Exploring the potential consequences of the disposable vape ban in the UK: A qualitative study with young adults who use disposable vapes","volume":"6","author":"Carr","year":"2026","journal-title":"PLOS Glob Public Health"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2022-068466","article-title":"Youth\u2019s engagement and perceptions of disposable e-cigarettes: a UK focus group study","volume":"13","author":"Smith","year":"2023","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1001\/jamahealthforum.2024.4594","article-title":"Flavored E-Cigarette Sales Restrictions and Young Adult Tobacco Use","volume":"5","author":"Friedman","year":"2024","journal-title":"JAMA Health Forum"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.50","article-title":"Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation","volume":"1","author":"Lindson","year":"2024","journal-title":"Cochrane Database Syst Rev"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s13690-025-01725-x","article-title":"Electronic cigarette for smoking cessation: a fast-track Delphi consensus of French-speaking experts","volume":"83","author":"L\u00fcthi","year":"2025","journal-title":"Arch Public Health"},{"key":"2026092506550449000_4.3.e005258.52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e709","DOI":"10.1097\/PEC.0000000000002339","article-title":"Poor Perception and Knowledge of Electronic Cigarettes Among Adolescents and Their Parents","volume":"38","author":"Cohen","year":"2022","journal-title":"Pediatr Emerg Care"}],"container-title":["BMJ Public Health"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/syndication.highwire.org\/content\/doi\/10.1136\/bmjph-2026-005258","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]],"date-time":"2026-09-25T13:55:18Z","timestamp":1790344518000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/bmjpublichealth.bmj.com\/lookup\/doi\/10.1136\/bmjph-2026-005258"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,7]]},"references-count":52,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,7]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1136\/bmjph-2026-005258"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bmjph-2026-005258","relation":{},"ISSN":["2753-4294"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2753-4294","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,7]]}}}