From Smoke to Mist: The Lived Experiences of Nursing Students Who Transitioned the Use of Traditional Cigarettes to E-Cigarettes

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32871/rmrj25si.t2419

Keywords:

coping, e-cigarette, health, motivations, lived experience, narrative inquiry, nursing, Nursing students, traditional cigarette, transition

Abstract

Background: The rise of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) as an alternative to traditional cigarettes has sparked significant interest, particularly among young adults, including nursing students.
Methods: The study explored the lived experiences of nursing students who transitioned the use of e-cigarettes from traditional cigarette smoking utilizing narrative inquiry as the research design. Data analysis followed an iterative process of thematic analysis to identify key themes and patterns in the participants' narratives.
Results: Four themes emerged: (1) Predictors of Onset and Immersion, (2) Personal Motivations Driving the Transition from Regular to Electronic, (3) Crossroads of Awareness and Benefits, and (4) Emerging Contours of E-cigarettes.
Conclusion: The findings shed light on the intricate dynamics where personal preferences intersect with societal norms, economic considerations, and technological advancements. This paper is associated with SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being. Good health and well-being encourage healthy well-being among people of all ages.

References

Aljaberi, F. K. & Yao, Jr. J.J. (2021). Predicting electronic cigarette use among adults in the Philippines. Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management. 16(3), 243-248. https://doi.org/10.24083/apjhm.v16i3.847

Amin, S., Dunn, A. G., & Laranjo, L. (2020). Social Influence in the Uptake and Use of Electronic Cigarettes: A Systematic Review. American journal of preventive medicine, 58(1), 129–141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2019.08.023

Arnett J. J. (2007). The myth of peer influence in adolescent smoking initiation. Health education & behavior : the official publication of the Society for Public Health Education, 34(4), 594–607. https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198105285330

Bailey, P.H. & Tilley, S. (2002). Storytelling and the interpretation of meaning in qualitative research. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 38(6), 574-583. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2648.2000.02224.x

Baker, A.N., Wilson, S.J. & Hayes, J.E. (2021). Flavor and product messaging are the two most important drivers of electronic cigarette selection in a choice-based task. Sci Rep 11, 4689. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-84332-4

Bandura, A. (1977). Social Learning Theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Barkhuizen, G. & Consoli, S. (2021). Pushing the edge in narrative inquiry. System. 102, Article 102656. https://doi.org/10.1016/j/system/2021/102656

Bate, G. P., Go, M. B., & Velos, S. P. (2019). Top stressors among Filipino undergraduate students: A multicenter – interdisciplinary study. Recoletos Multidisciplinary Research Journal. 7(2), 89-101. https://doi.org/10.32871/rmrj1907.02.07

Bates, C. D. (2021). POINT: e-Cigarette Use for Harm Reduction in Tobacco Use Disorder? Yes. Chest, 160(3), 807–809. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2021.04.046

Bauman, K. E., & Ennett, S. T. (1996). On the importance of peer influence for adolescent drug use: Commonly neglected considerations. Addiction, 91(2), 185–198. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.1996.tb03175.x

Beard, E., West, R., Michie, S., & Brown, J. (2019). Association of prevalence of electronic cigarette use with smoking cessation and cigarette consumption in England: a time–series analysis between 2006 and 2017. Addiction, 115(5), 961–974. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.14851

Bellew, B., Antonio, M., Limpin, M., Alzona, L., Trinidad, F., Dorotheo, U., Yapchiongco, R., Garcia, R., Anden, A., & Alday, J. (2013). Addressing the tobacco epidemic in the Philippines: progress since ratification of the WHO FCTC. Public health action, 3(2), 103–108. https://doi.org/10.5588/pha.13.0006

Brown, R., Bauld, L., De Lacy, E., Hallingberg, B., Maynard, O., McKell, J., Moore, L., & Moore, G. (2019). A qualitative study of e-cigarette emergence and the potential for renormalisation of smoking in UK youth. International Journal of Drug Policy, 75, 102598. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.11.006

Canzan, F., Finocchio, E., Moretti, F., Vincenzi, S., Tchepnou-Kouaya, A., Marognolli, O., Poli, A., & Verlato, G. (2019). Knowledge and use of e-cigarettes among nursing students: results from a cross-sectional survey in north-eastern Italy. BMC Public Health, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-7250-y

Chen, R., Pierce, J. P., Leas, E. C., Benmarhnia, T., Strong, D. R., White, M. M., Stone, M., Trinidad, D. R., McMenamin, S. B., & Messer, K. (2023). Effectiveness of e-cigarettes as aids for smoking cessation: evidence from the PATH Study cohort, 2017-2019. Tobacco control, 32(e2), e145–e152. https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2021-056901

Department of Health & Human Services. (n.d.). Smoking and vaping - how to discourage your children. Better Health Channel. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/smoking-how-to-discourage-your-children

D’ Angelo, H., Patel, M., & Rose, S. W. (2021). Convenience store access and e-cigarette advertising exposure is associated with future e-cigarette initiation among Tobacco-Naïve youth in the PATH study (2013–2016). Journal of Adolescent Health, 68(4), 794–800. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.08.030

Domer, E. (2020). Pilot study shows correlation between persistent cough and use of electronic cigarettes by University of Kentucky students. Kentucky Health News. Accessed at: https://kyhealthnews.net/2020/12/17/pilot-study-shows-correlation-between-persistent-cough-and-use-of-electronic-cigarettes-by-university-of-kentucky-students/

Evans-Polce, R., Patrick, M., Lanza, S., Miech, R., O-Malley, P. & Johnston, L. (2018). Reasons for vaping among U.S. 12th graders. Journal of Adolescent Health. 62(4):457-462. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2017.10.009

Finkelstein, I., Soffer-Vital, S. & Lieblich, A. (2024). Contextual narrative interpretation model (CNI): Rethinking qualitative analysis. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 23(2), https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069241296983

Gonzalez, R., Thompson, S., & Wright, D. (2022). Health risks of e-cigarettes: A review of current literature. Tobacco Control Journal, 31(4), 512-523. https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2021-056562

Jayakumar, N., O'Connor, S., Diemert, L., & Schwartz, R. (2020). Predictors of E-Cigarette Initiation: Findings From the Youth and Young Adult Panel Study. Tobacco use insights, 13, 1179173X20977486. https://doi.org/10.1177/1179173X20977486

Jha, V., & Kraguljac, A. (2021). Assessing the Social Influences, Self-Esteem, and Stress of High School Students Who Vape. The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, 94(1), 95–106. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7995953/

Jones, S., King, B. A., & Leroy, Z. (2020). Trends in the use of cigarettes, cigars, and marijuana among students with and without asthma, 2003-2017. The Journal of asthma : official journal of the Association for the Care of Asthma, 57(4), 391–397. https://doi.org/10.1080/02770903.2019.1573254

Karaca, A. & Durna, Z. (2019). Patient satisfaction with quality of nursing care. Nursing Open, 6(2), 535-545. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.237

Kobus, K. (2003). Peers and adolescent smoking. Addiction, 98(s1), 37–55. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1360-0443.98.s1.4.x

Kong, G., Bold, K., Morean, M., Bhatti, H., Camenga, D., Jackson, A. & Krishnan-Sarin, S. (2019). Appeal of JUUL among adolescents. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 205, 107691. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.107691

Kong, G., Bold, K. W., Cavallo, D. A., Davis, D. R., Jackson, A., & Krishnan-Sarin, S. (2021). Informing the development of adolescent e-cigarette cessation interventions: A qualitative study. Addictive Behaviors, 114, 106720. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106720

Lazarus, R. S. (1991). Emotion and adaptation. Oxford University Press.

Leventhal, A. M., Mason, T. B., Cwalina, S. N., Whitted, L., Anderson, M. K., & Callahan, C. J. (2020). Flavor and nicotine effects on e-cigarette appeal in young adults: Moderation by reason for vaping. American Journal of Health Behavior, 44(5), 732–743. https://doi.org/10.5993/ajhb.44.5.15

Loukas, A., Lewis, J., Marti, N., Pasch, K. & Perry, C. (2020). Tobacco magazine advertising impacts longitudinal changes in the number of tobacco products used by young adults. Journal of Adolescent Health, 68(4), 773 - 779. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.10.032

Majchrzak, D., Ezzo, M. & Kiumarsi, M. (2020). The effect of tobacco- and electronic cigarettes use on the olfactory function in humans. Food Quality and Preference. 86:103995. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2020.103995

Malt, L., Verron, T., Cahours, X., Guo, M., Weaver, S., Walele, T., & O’Connell, G. (2020). Perception of the relative harm of electronic cigarettes compared to cigarettes amongst US adults from 2013 to 2016: analysis of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study data. Harm Reduction Journal, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-020-00410-2

Marqués, P., Piqueras, L., & Sanz, M. (2021). An updated overview of e-cigarette impact on human health. Respiratory Research, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12931-021-01737-5

McDonald, E. A., & Ling, P. M. (2015). One of several 'toys' for smoking: young adult experiences with electronic cigarettes in New York City. Tobacco control, 24(6), 588–593. https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2014-051743

Morean, M. E., Butler, E. R., Bold, K. W., Kong, G., Camenga, D. R., Cavallo, D. A., Simon, P., O’Malley, S. S., & Krishnan-Sarin, S. (2018). Preferring more e-cigarette flavors is associated with e-cigarette use frequency among adolescents but not adults. PloS One, 13(1), e0189015. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0189015

Palmes, M., Trajera, S. M., & Sajnani, A. K. (2021). Knowledge and attitude related to use of electronic cigarettes among undergraduate nursing students in an urban university setting in Philippines. Journal of preventive medicine and hygiene, 62(3), E770–E775. https://doi.org/10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2021.62.3.1709

Patrick, M., Miech, R., Carlier, C., O”Malley, P., Johnston, L. & Schulenberg, J. (2016). Self-reported reasons for vaping among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders in the US: Nationally-representative results. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 165:275-278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.05.017

Pierce, J.P., Distefan, J.M., Kaplan, R.M. & Gilpin, E.A. (2005). The role of curiosity on smoking initiation. Addictive Behaviors. 30(4):685-696. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2004.08.014

Pokhrel, P., Herzog, T. A., Muranaka, N. & Fagan, P. (2015). Young adult e-cigarette users’ reasons for liking and not liking e-cigarettes: A qualitative study. Psychology & Health, 30(12), 1450–1469. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2015.1061129

Patel, U., Patel, N., Khurana, M., Parulekar, A., Patel, A., Ortiz, J. F., Patel, R., Urhoghide, E., Mistry, A., Bhriguvanshi, A., Abdulqader, M., Mehta, N., Arumaithurai, K., & Shah, S. (2022). Effect Comparison of E-Cigarette and Traditional Smoking and Association with Stroke—A Cross-Sectional Study of NHANES. Neurology International, 14(2), 441-452. https://doi.org/10.3390/neurolint14020037

Pepper, J. K., Ribisl, K. M., & Brewer, N. T. (2016). Adolescents' interest in trying flavoured e-cigarettes. Tobacco Control, 25(Suppl 2), ii62–ii66. https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2016-053174

Petraitis, J., Flay, B.R. & Miller, T.Q. (1995). Reviewing theories of adolescent substance use: Organizing pieces in the puzzle. Psychological Bulletin, 117(1), 67-86. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.117.1.67

Ronit, P. (2011). Technophilia: A New Model For Technology Adoption. UK Academy for Information Systems Conference Proceedings 2011, p. 41. https://aisel.aisnet.org/ukais2011/41

Sapru, S., Vardhan, M., Li, Q., Guo, Y., Li, X., & Saxena, D. (2020). E-cigarettes use in the United States: reasons for use, perceptions, and effects on health. BMC Public Health, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09572-x

Sengbusch, J. R., Tiernan, D. L., Tamulevicius, N., & Martinasek, M. P. (2021). The Impact of Smoking on Maximum Oxygen Uptake. Respiratory Care, 66(5), 857–861. https://doi.org/10.4187/respcare.08406

Simmons, V. N., Quinn, G. P., Harrell, P. T., Meltzer, L. R., Correa, J. B., Unrod, M., & Brandon, T. H. (2016). E-cigarette use in adults: a qualitative study of users' perceptions and future use intentions. Addiction research & theory, 24(4), 313–321. https://doi.org/10.3109/16066359.2016.1139700

Simpson, E.E.A., Davison, J., Doherty, J. et al. (2022). Employing the theory of planned behaviour to design an e-cigarette education resource for use in secondary schools. BMC Public Health 22, 276. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-12674-3

Smith, C. E., Hill, S. E., & Amos, A. (2019). Impact of specialist and primary care stop smoking support on socio‐economic inequalities in cessation in the United Kingdom: a systematic review and national equity analysis. Addiction, 115(1), 34–46. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.14760

Smith, R. & Jones, K. (2019). A meta-analysis of instructional strategies in mathematics education. Educational Psychology Review, 32(3), 543-567.

Sudraba, V., Millere, A., Deklava, L., Millere, E., Zumente, Z., Circenis, K., & Millere, I. (2015). Stress coping strategies of drug and alcohol addicted patients in Latvia. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 205, 632–636. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.09.099

Taylor, G., McNeill, A., Girling, A., Farley, A., Lindson-Hawley, N., & Aveyard, P. (2014). Change in mental health after smoking cessation: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ, 348, g1151. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.g1151

Thrasher, J. F., Abad-Vivero, E. N., Barrientos-Gutíerrez, I., Pérez-Hernández, R., Reynales-Shigematsu, L. M., Mejía, R., Arillo-Santillán, E., Hernández-Ávila, M., & Sargent, J. D. (2016). Prevalence and Correlates of E-Cigarette Perceptions and Trial Among Early Adolescents in Mexico. The Journal of adolescent health: official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine, 58(3), 358–365. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.11.008

United Nations. (2015). The Sustainable Development Goals. Accessed at: https://sdgs.un.org/goals

Vandelaer, J. (2023). E-cigarettes contain hazardous substances, addictive and harmful. World Health Organization South-East Asia. Thailand. Accessed at: https://www.who.int/thailand/news/feature-stories/detail/e-cigarettes-contain-hazardous-substances--addictive-and-harmful#:~:text=E%2Dcigarettes%20delivers%20nicotine,the%20risk%20of%20heart%20disease

Wang, C.C. & Geale, S.K. (2015). The power of story: Narrative inquiry as a methodology in nursing research. International Journal of Nursing Sciences. 2(2), 195-198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnss.2015.04.014

Webb Hooper, M., & Kolar, S. K. (2016). Racial/Ethnic Differences in Electronic Cigarette Use and Reasons for Use among Current and Former Smokers: Findings from a Community-Based Sample. International journal of environmental research and public health, 13(10), 1009. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph13101009

Wei, L., Muhammad-Kah, R. S., Hannel, T., Pithwalla, Y. B., Gogova, M., Chow, S. & Black, R. B. (2020). The impact of cigarette and e-cigarette use history on transition patterns: A longitudinal analysis of the population assessment of tobacco and health (PATH) study, 2013-2015. Harm Reduction Journal. 17, 45 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-020-00386-z

World Health Organization: WHO. (2023, July 31). Tobacco. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tobacco

Downloads

Published

2025-04-05

How to Cite

Abano, I. B., Abala, A. C., Acera, . J., Burias, N. M., Cañete, K. T., Gabriel, A. A., Gayo, . S. Y., Mejarito, K., Nuñez, C., & Alforque, J. M. L. (2025). From Smoke to Mist: The Lived Experiences of Nursing Students Who Transitioned the Use of Traditional Cigarettes to E-Cigarettes. Recoletos Multidisciplinary Research Journal, 1(Special Issue), 93–113. https://doi.org/10.32871/rmrj25si.t2419

Issue

Section

Articles

Most read articles by the same author(s)