Is there a social health gradient in vaping? Data from the e-TAC study

Background. There exists a social gradient in tobacco use: people with high professional status and those with a high level of education smoke less than others. The existence of a social gradient regarding the e-cigarette use is more controversial. Aim. To describe the relationship between social status and e-cigarette use among adults visiting family practice units. Methods. A cross-sectional survey from baseline data collected in an observational cohort, in the Aquitaine area (France). Patients from eight primary care units between May and October 2015 were included if they were willing to participate. Results. 473 patients were included among 510 responders, 51% of whom were smokers. Experimentation with the e-cigarette concerned 36% of patients and 13% were current users. The likelihood of smoking was greater among tenants and those with only a high school education. There was no relationship between the use of e-cigarette (experimentation or current use) and socio-economic status. Conclusion. On the other hand, this study did not show any social gradient in e-cigarette use among family practice patients. The patients seemed to have taken ownership of this tool, regardless of their social status. General practitioners should support them by proposing to e-cigarette users a personal assistance leading to cessation or the reduction of smoking.