Factors Influencing Electronic Cigarette use among Young Adults in Sarawak, Malaysia: A Hierarchical Analysis

Sivanandhan, Selleyitoreea and Md Mizanur, Rahman (2025) Factors Influencing Electronic Cigarette use among Young Adults in Sarawak, Malaysia: A Hierarchical Analysis. Journal of Public Health and Pharmacy, 5 (3). pp. 475-486. ISSN 2775-4952

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Abstract

Introduction: The rapid global rise in electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use has led to increasing research interest, yet factors influencing its adoption remain underexplored in Malaysia. This study investigates sociodemographic and psychosocial determinants of ecigarette use in the Samarahan and Kuching divisions of Sarawak, Malaysia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among smokers aged 18 and above. A total of 474 participants were recruited using cluster sampling. Data collection was performed through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. Hierarchical multinomial logistic regression was applied to identify key predictors of e-cigarette use. Results: Among participants, 27.8% were e-smokers, 25.8% were switchers, and 46.4% were dual smokers. The analysis revealed that females were more likely to be e-smokers (AOR = 5.889, p < .001) and switchers (AOR = 2.647, p = .021) than males. Additionally, degree holders were more likely to be e-smokers than dual smokers (AOR = 4.106, p = .025). Psychosocial factors, such as subjective norms (AOR = 1.435, p = .023) and perceived usefulness (AOR = 1.616, p = .016), were significant predictors of e-cigarette use. Conclusion: Sociodemographic and psychosocial factors, such as gender and education, influence e-cigarette use in Sarawak. These findings provide valuable insights for designing targeted public health strategies to regulate e-cigarette use and support smoking cessation efforts in Malaysia.

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