Key words electronic cigarette - pregnancy - risk perception - Health Belief Model - online
forums - mixed methods
Schlüsselwörter elektrische Zigarette - Schwangerschaft - Risikowahrnehmung - Health-Belief-Modell
- Online-Foren - Mixed-Methods
Abbreviations
HBM:
Health Belief Model
IHBM:
Integrated Health Belief Model
TPB:
Theory of Planned Behavior
Introduction
In the last decade, e-cigarettes have become popular, especially among younger people
[1 ]. The use of e-cigarettes has spread, even among pregnant women. International research
studies estimate that the prevalence of e-cigarette use in pregnancy is between 0.5
and 15% [2 ], [3 ], [4 ]. E-cigarette use in pregnancy is a relevant health hazard for pregnant women and
fetuses alike [5 ], [6 ], [7 ]: e-cigarettes often contain nicotine, a fetal toxin [8 ], [9 ]. In addition, e-cigarettes may contain other potential fetal toxins including carcinogenic
and mutagenic substances or heavy metals [10 ]. Previous animal studies suggest that e-cigarette use during pregnancy may be
associated with epigenetic, organic [11 ], [12 ], [13 ] and pulmonary [11 ], [14 ], [15 ] health risks for the fetus. Reputable prevention organizations warn against using
e-cigarettes in pregnancy [16 ], [17 ].
Thus, examining the risk perceptions and health beliefs with regard to the use of
e-cigarettes during pregnancy is an important starting point for prevention. According
to commonly used behavior models, risk perceptions and their underlying assumptions
are central predictors for health or pathogenic behaviors [18 ], [19 ]. In the Integrated Health Belief Model (IHBM), which combines elements of frequently
used behavior models (the Health Belief Model (HBM) [19 ] and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) [18 ]), the intention to perform a behavior is predicted based on perceived threats, perceived
barriers, perceived benefits, attitudes and perceived norms, and perceived self-efficacy.
The IHBM was adapted and applied in a study by Case et al. [20 ] on e-cigarette use among college students. Applying the IHBM in the context
of pregnancy seems useful, since the risk perceptions of pregnant women could
deviate from those of the general population. Pregnant women might consider the risks
for their unborn child when deciding whether or not to use e-cigarettes [21 ]. Previous studies have indicated that in addition to health-related factors which
are incorporated in the HBM, normative factors (as postulated in the TPB) are relevant
predictors of tobacco cigarette use [22 ].
Only some aspects of risk perceptions about e-cigarette use in pregnancy have been
researched so far. Some studies have examined whether pregnant women (or women of
childbearing age) perceive e-cigarette use to be harmful to themselves or the unborn
child [3 ], [4 ], [23 ], [24 ]. Other studies have reported on the reasons cited for e-cigarette use during pregnancy,
such as fewer perceived health risks compared to tobacco cigarettes or as an aid to
stop smoking [3 ], [4 ], [23 ], [24 ]. Qualitative studies have identified perceived barriers and norms associated with
e-cigarette use in pregnancy [4 ], [25 ], [26 ]. However, to our knowledge,
only individual elements of the HBM have been used to understand the risk perceptions
of e-cigarette use during pregnancy, and not the HBM in its entirety.
The primary objective of this paper was to advance our current knowledge about risk
perceptions with regard to e-cigarette use during pregnancy. Accordingly, our first
aim was to identify and characterize the constructs of risk perceptions about e-cigarette
use during pregnancy, based on the IHBM. Our second aim was to identify whether risk
perceptions of e-cigarette use during pregnancy vary according to e-cigarette user
status. Since previous studies have shown that e-cigarette use in pregnancy occurs
primarily among pregnant smokers [21 ], our third aim was to identify differences in risk perception according to tobacco
cigarette user status.
Methods
Research design: a mixed methods study
In our ST udy on E -cigarettes and P regnancy (STEP) we mainly used a sequential exploratory mixed methods approach to
get a comprehensive understanding of the risk perceptions associated with e-cigarette
use in pregnancy ([Fig. 1 ]). The defining characteristics of our sequential mixed methods design was that the
qualitative part would be used to develop the questionnaire for the subsequent quantitative
part of the study [27 ]. We also compared the results of the qualitative part with the results of the quantitative
part, along with identified themes in a side-by-side joint display [27 ]. The mixed methods design has been extensively described in our previously published
study protocol in this journal [24 ], and we therefore only provide a brief description of the qualitative and quantitative
study parts below.
Fig. 1 Mixed methods approach. Description of the procedure and methods of the mixed methods
study.
Qualitative study part
In our study, the qualitative part of the study helped to identify theory-based elements
of risk perceptions of e-cigarette use during pregnancy. Our qualitative study part
used a netnographic approach which analyzed threads in various online discussion forums
(online communities) [28 ]. To do this, we identified German-language online discussion threads addressing
e-cigarette use in pregnancy and analyzed their contents using the IHBM.
To identify German-language online forum threads on e-cigarette use during pregnancy,
the first author conducted an extensive and multi-step search using the market-leading
internet search engine Google (period studied: April to June 2017). To avoid bias
caused by user data or online advertising, we did not include recommended links or
paid advertisements. We used the internal search function to identify relevant threads
within the identified online forums. To analyze the identified threads, we used a
qualitative content analysis approach as described by Mayring [29 ], [30 ]. Detailed information on this multi-step search and the qualitative analysis process
can be found in our previously published study protocol [24 ]. In this paper we present an overview of the identified main constructs and themes
perceived threats, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, attitudes and
perceived norms (see [31 ] for details).
Quantitative study part
In the subsequent quantitative part of our study, we developed a standardized questionnaire.
Our previously published study protocol describes the questionnaire development process
and pretesting of the questionnaire in detail [24 ].
Data collection
The developed questionnaire was administered to pregnant women attending the Asklepios
Klinik Barmbek in Hamburg, Germany, between 4th April 2018 and 11th January 2019.
This clinic is a large obstetric hospital with more than 3000 births every year and
a broad catchment area in the city of Hamburg and beyond. Pregnant women were recruited
during the standard birth registration interview, which was carried out by midwives
in the clinic [24 ].
Instruments and measures
Perceived threats and attitudes about the harmfulness of e-cigarettes were measured using an assessment of perceived absolute harms [32 ], the perceived relative/comparative harms of e-cigarettes with and without nicotine
for pregnant women and unborn children [2 ], [33 ], and the perceived specific health risks of e-cigarette use during pregnancy for
pregnant women [34 ] and unborn children. We also measured the overall perceived threats of the aforementioned
potential health risks.
Perceived benefits were measured using the question: “From your point of view, what are the benefits
of e-cigarette use during pregnancy?” Participants could choose between several listed
potential benefits which included using e-cigarettes to stop smoking or facilitate
smoking cessation, harm reduction, and other benefits [32 ], [35 ], [36 ].
As with the perceived benefits, we also measured perceived barriers . The list of potential barriers to choose from were health-related, related to cessation
of smoking and addiction, and a number of other perceived barriers [26 ].
In addition to the above-mentioned aspects about harmfulness, we measured the overall attitudes of the participants towards the use of e-cigarettes by pregnant women in general
and as an alternative to tobacco cigarettes.
Perceived norms were measured by focusing on the acceptability of e-cigarettes to partners and friends.
The questionnaire included questions on the use of tobacco and e-cigarettes in the year before becoming pregnant and during the current pregnancy [37 ]. Based on this information, we developed two variables to reflect tobacco and e-cigarette
user status (1 = nonuser, 2 = former user, 3 = current user).
To describe our sample, we collected data on sociodemographic characteristics such as age, using an open-ended question. We used the answers to create the three
categories “18 to 29”, “30 to 34”, “> 34 years”. We also measured the level of education
and created the categories “low”, “middle” and “high”. We evaluated immigrant background
using the definition developed by Schenk et al. [38 ]. We additionally included indicators for the week of pregnancy and understanding/knowledge
of e-cigarettes.
Quantitative analysis
First, we carried out a descriptive analysis of the items within the constructs “perceived
threats/attitudes towards harmfulness”, “perceived benefits”, “perceived barriers”,
“overall attitudes” and “perceived norms”. In a second and third step, we examined
whether risk perceptions vary according to the participantsʼ e-cigarette and tobacco
cigarette user status by performing a two-sided χ2 test/Fisherʼs exact test.
Results
Qualitative results
We were able to identify 1552 posts in 25 threads from a total of 14 online forums
as relevant for our analysis [24 ].
[Table 1 ] provides an overview of the identified constructs as well as their underlying aspects.
Perceived threats of e-cigarette use during pregnancy were severe nicotine-related health risks for
the pregnant woman and unborn child such as addiction, oxygen deficiency, and sudden
infant death (a). The perception of threats included the potential health risks of
additional ingredients resulting in lung damage or cancer (b). The perceived threats
of e-cigarettes were partially diminished by the comparison with the harmfulness of
tobacco cigarettes (c). However, the perceived threats of e-cigarette use during pregnancy
seemed to vary, due to the lack of knowledge and research studies (d). Perceived benefits included harm reduction (e), facilitation of and support for smoking cessation (f),
and financial benefits (g), while perceived barriers included lack of satisfaction (especially for e-cigarettes without nicotine) (h)
and social stigma (i). Attitudes included positive and negative attitudes about e-cigarette use during pregnancy and
were described in relation to the harmfulness of e-cigarettes in general, and compared
with tobacco cigarettes. While there was uniformity regarding the nonuse of e-cigarettes
during pregnancy in general (j), there were partially positive attitudes with regard
to e-cigarette use as an alternative to using tobacco cigarettes during pregnancy
(k). The identified themes for perceived norms were the attitudes and behavior in the pregnant womanʼs social environment (e.g.,
her partner) (l) as well as the recommendations of medical providers (m).
Table 1 Themes of IHBM constructs and selected quotes related to risk perceptions of e-cigarette
use during pregnancy in 25 online discussion threads, adapted by Schilling et al.
[31 ].
Identified themes of IHBM constructs
Selected quotes
[…] Smileys within the text/aspects added by the researcher for clarification.
T = number of the associated thread; year of the post.
Perceived threats
Severe nicotine-related health risks (a)
“Nicotine is an addictive drug and a neurotoxin, which of course can be transmitted
to the unborn child. Thatʼs why I would personally abstain from nicotine during pregnancy!”
(T20, 2017)
Potential health risks of additional ingredients (b)
“Even if you smoke without nicotine, there are toxins that are not good for your lungs
and certainly not for the baby.” (T11, 2016)
Relative risks (c)
“Whether it is harmful to the child has not been proven yet, but what has been proven
is that it is healthier, contains 3800 fewer toxins and you cannot smoke passively,
etc.” (T5, 2012)
Lack of knowledge and research studies (d)
“Even those without nicotine contain chemicals and nobody knows what the long-term
consequences will be!” (T3, 2012)
Perceived benefits
Harm reduction (e)
“Vaping without nicotine is 10 times better than smoking. But of course, you should
not vape during pregnancy either. But vaping is an option to move away from normal
cigarettes towards no cigarettes.” (T1, 2011)
Possibility and facilitation of smoking cessation (f)
“Yes, I had already thought about e-cigarettes. It would be ideal, the habit stays,
but thereʼs no more nicotine.” (T7, 2014)
Financial benefits (g)
“Good luck to anyone who wants to live healthier and wants to save a lot of money
at the same time.” (T2, 2011)
Perceived barriers
Lack of satisfaction (h)
“Although I donʼt smoke, cigarettes without nicotine, isnʼt that like drinking without
alcohol? – Do you think that will satisfy your cravings?” (T22, 2012)
Social stigma (i)
“I would say ‘stop that’ [e-cigarette use during pregnancy] is the general answer.
[Evil smiley] Be happy you havenʼt been put through the wringer yet!” (T11, 2016)
Attitudes
Negative attitudes (j)
“As far as I know, this alternative to ‘normal’ smoking is very controversial. In
my opinion, one should completely leave it alone during pregnancy!” (T15, 2017)
Positive attitudes (k)
“It is certain that not vaping or smoking is always better! […] But vaping without
nicotine is still 1000 times better than smoking! ” (T17, 2011)
Perceived norms
Attitudes and behavior in the social environment (l)
“My husband is a chemist and looked at the ingredients. He says thatʼs a good alternative
for pregnant women.” (T11, 2016)
Recommendations of medical providers (m)
“Hey, in my last pregnancy, I could not stop that s*** smoking, therefore the chief
physician in the hospital recommended that I use e-cigarettes without nicotine, stating
that it is healthier than normal cigarettes.” (T11, 2016)
Quantitative results
Sample characteristics
In the study period, 2092 pregnant women registered to give birth in the hospital.
A total of 575 pregnant women completed the informed consent forms and the questionnaire
(response rate: 27.5%) [24 ]. Of these, 540 participants fully answered the questions about their consumption
of tobacco and e-cigarette use and were included in the subsequent analysis. On average,
participants were 32.27 (SD 4.68) years old and in their 32.29 week of pregnancy (SD
2.75). Most of the surveyed participants had a high level of education (68.9%), and
more than a quarter had an immigrant background (26.2%). All in all, 8.7% (26.5%)
of the participants used tobacco cigarettes during pregnancy (before pregnancy). Six
out of ten (62.3%) participants who knew about e-cigarettes before participating in
the study (96.6%) were aware that e-cigarettes could contain nicotine, and 7.8% used
e-cigarettes before pregnancy. Less than one percent used e-cigarettes
during pregnancy (0.4%).
Descriptive and bivariate results
Perceived threats/health-related attitudes
Nearly all (99%) participants agreed that e-cigarettes with nicotine are harmful to
pregnant women and the unborn child. Eight out of ten participants agreed that e-cigarettes
without nicotine are harmful to the health of pregnant women (82.1%) and the unborn
child (84.2%). Almost one fifth of the participants agreed that e-cigarettes are less
harmful to the health of pregnant women (24.6%) and unborn children (21.7%) than tobacco
cigarettes. A lower oxygen supply was the most frequently perceived potential health
risk for the unborn child (89.3%). Addiction was the most commonly perceived health
risk for pregnant women (86.2%). Current users of tobacco cigarettes agreed less often
that they would feel threatened by the potential health risks of e-cigarettes if they
used them during pregnancy (p = 0.002) ([Table 2 ]).
Table 2 Risk perceptions about e-cigarette use in pregnancy among 540 surveyed pregnant women.
Results of the quantitative part of the STEP.
Construct/Items
Total (n = 540)
E-cigarette use
Tobacco cigarette use
None (n = 498)
Former (n = 40)
None (n = 397)
Former (n = 96)
Current (n = 47)
%
%
%
%
%
%
Percentages are based on valid cases
* p < 0.05
** p < 0.001
1 Due to the small number of cases, we did not calculate using Pearson χ2 test/Fisherʼs exact test.
2 ≥ 25% of expected frequencies less than 5
3 Participants without a partner were excluded (n = 517).
Perceived threats/attitudes towards harmfulness
Perceived absolute harms
99.1
99.2
97.6
99.2
99.0
97.9
82.1
82.6
76.2
83.4
84.0
67.4*
99.3
99.4
97.6
99.5
98.9
97.9
84.2
84.9
75.6
85.7
82.4
75.0
Perceived relative/comparative harms
24.6
24.6
23.8
23.8
29.5
21.3
21.7
21.7
21.4
20.9
28.7
14.9
Perceived specific health risks
86.2
87.1
76.2
87.6
85.3
76.6
85.8
86.6
76.2
88.6
83.9
66.0**
83.2
84.0
73.8
85.1
82.1
70.2*
89.3
89.7
85.4
88.8
90.3
91.5
87.3
87.7
83.3
88.4
82.3
89.1
86.4
86.4
85.7
85.3
86.5
95.7
Overall perceived threats
93.5
94.3
84.4*
95.3
92.6
80.0*
Perceived benefits
31.8
31.2
39.0
29.3
36.2
42.6
28.7
27.4
43.9*
26.1
31.9
42.6*
26.7
25.9
36.6
25.1
28.7
36.2
20.3
20.0
24.4
19.2
19.1
31.9
19.2
17.5
39.0*
17.1
18.1
38.3*
49.6
51.2
31.7*
51.2
47.9
40.4
Perceived barriers
96.6
96.7
95.2
96.4
96.9
97.8
89.1
88.8
92.92
90.3
87.5
82.6
85.5
85.1
90.5
84.4
88.5
89.1
72.0
72.4
66.7
72.6
77.1
56.5*
65.4
65.5
64.3
62.6
72.9
73.9
Attitudes
98.7
99.2
92.9
98.5
98.9
100.0
87.3
87.5
85.7
89.3
82.3
80.9
Perceived norms
92.7
93.2
86.5
94.1
92.1
81.4*
84.5
84.5
84.6
84.8
86.0
78.7
Perceived benefits
The most commonly perceived benefit was that e-cigarettes could help to reduce the
consumption of tobacco cigarettes (31.8%), followed by other benefits related to facilitating
smoking cessation, quitting smoking altogether, and other, less important health risks.
Perceived benefits varied somewhat according to the participantsʼ tobacco and e-cigarette
user status.
Perceived barriers
The most commonly perceived barriers were health-related (e.g., “E-cigarettes can
harm the health of pregnant women and unborn children” [96.6%]) and did not vary significantly
according to e-cigarette or tobacco cigarette user status.
Attitudes
Nearly all participants agreed that pregnant women should not use e-cigarettes during
pregnancy (98.7%). Fewer participants believed that pregnant women should not use
e-cigarettes as an alternative to tobacco cigarettes (87.3%) ([Table 2 ]).
Perceived norms
Around nine out of ten partners (92.7%) and friends (84.5%) of the participants did
not reject e-cigarette use during pregnancy. The perception of norms varied according
to the participantsʼ tobacco and e-cigarette user status.
Mixed methods results
The quantitative results confirmed the findings of the qualitative part of the study
(cf. the detailed side-by-side comparison in [Table 3 ]). A very commonly perceived benefit in the qualitative part was “possibility and
facilitation of smoking cessation”. The most frequently mentioned perceived benefits
in the quantitative part of the study were that e-cigarettes could help to reduce/stop
the consumption of tobacco cigarettes and reduce stress when quitting smoking.
Table 3 Mixed methods analysis: side-by-side comparison of qualitative and quantitative results
of the STEP.
Theme
Qualitative results (analysis of 1552 posts from 25 online discussion threads)
Quantitative results (standardized survey of 540 pregnant women)
Perceived threats/
High level of perceived seriousness of e-cigarettes with nicotine
Listed threats to the health of the unborn children included reduced supply of oxygen
and brain damage as perceived risks
Listed threats to the health of the pregnant woman included addiction, irritation
of the respiratory tract, and cancer as perceived risks
Nearly all (99%) participants agreed that e-cigarettes with nicotine are harmful in
pregnancy.
Reduced oxygen supply was the most frequently perceived health risk for unborn children
(89.3%).
Addiction was the most frequently perceived health risk of e-cigarette use for pregnant
women (86.2%).
Eight out of ten participants agreed that e-cigarettes without nicotine are harmful
to the health of pregnant women (82.1%) and unborn children (84.2%).
Almost one fifth of the participants agreed that e-cigarettes are less harmful to
the health of pregnant women (24.6%) and unborn children (21.7%) than tobacco cigarettes.
Perceived benefits
Perceived barriers
Attitudes
Nearly all participants agreed that pregnant women should not use e-cigarettes during
pregnancy (98.7%).
Fewer pregnant women agreed that pregnant women should not use e-cigarettes as an
alternative to tobacco cigarettes (87.3%).
Perceived norms
Discussion
To our knowledge, this is the first study using an IHBM and combining qualitative
and quantitative methods to analyze risk perceptions and health beliefs about e-cigarette
use during pregnancy.
The perceived threat of e-cigarettes, especially e-cigarettes containing nicotine,
was high in both the qualitative and the quantitative parts of our study. Nevertheless,
in accordance with previous studies, both parts showed that e-cigarette use was perceived
as a less serious health threat than tobacco cigarette use by a minority of the surveyed
women [21 ], [32 ]. However, the percentages identified in our study differ from the percentages reported
in previous studies [32 ], [35 ]. The study by Mark et al. [32 ] showed that 43% of a cohort of pregnant women from the U. S. believed that e-cigarettes
were less harmful to unborn children than tobacco cigarettes. These different percentages
seemed to be in line with the observed increase in the perceived harmfulness of e-cigarettes
among the general population [39 ].
In line with this, our quantitative results show that health-related aspects were
perceived as the main barriers to using e-cigarettes during pregnancy. Our findings
contradict previous indications that pregnant smokers might switch to e-cigarettes
during pregnancy because the associated health risks are assumed to be lower [2 ], [3 ], [23 ]. Instead, the lack of knowledge about the health risks for the fetus seemed to be
a highly relevant concern and therefore a barrier to pregnant women using e-cigarettes
in both our qualitative and quantitative study parts. The threat to fetal health could
be an explanation of why pregnant tobacco cigarette users did not switch to e-cigarettes.
In addition to perceived health-related barriers, the most commonly cited barriers
were the potential for addiction, the efficacy of e-cigarettes as a tool to stop smoking
and the difficulties in stopping smoking using e-cigarettes (especially if they did
not contain nicotine). (For studies on e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation help in
the general population, see [40 ]).
In contrast, our results showed that commonly perceived benefits of e-cigarettes among
current smokers included reducing the amount they smoked or even smoking cessation
with the help of e-cigarettes. Previous studies have shown that pregnancy is an opportunity
for many women to quit smoking or reduce the number of tobacco cigarettes they smoke
[41 ]. However, half of the pregnant smokers who smoked just before the beginning or during
pregnancy continue to smoke during pregnancy [42 ]. The belief that e-cigarettes are a smoking cessation aid could lead pregnant women
to reach for e-cigarettes.
Reducing the stress of smoking cessation with the help of e-cigarettes was a central
perceived benefit in our study. Previous studies showed that some pregnant smokers
evaluated quitting nicotine during pregnancy as stressful and dangerous for the fetus
[25 ], [43 ]. Pregnant smokers were afraid of harming their child by the sudden withdrawal of
nicotine and the accompanying stress of sudden withdrawal [25 ], [44 ]. Similar to stress reduction, satisfying cravings by using e-cigarettes was an important
perceived benefit. Smoking cessation during pregnancy frequently fails, due to the
addictive potential of nicotine [45 ], [46 ]. The perceived possibility of reducing stress and cravings and having a nicotine
substitute may support the decision to use e-cigarettes containing nicotine for
smoking cessation during pregnancy – despite the perceived health risks and the
controversial efficacy of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid. These results underline
how important it is to take stress and stress reduction into consideration in the
context of smoking cessation during pregnancy in clinical practice.
In line with these perceived benefits and in agreement with previous studies, we showed
that some pregnant women had positive attitudes towards the use of e-cigarettes as
an alternative to tobacco cigarettes [21 ]. This attitude was present in about 20% of tobacco cigarette users. These pregnant
smokers might be vulnerable to using e-cigarettes.
The decision to use e-cigarettes may also be influenced by the pregnant womanʼs partner,
family or medical providers. A recently published study indicated that the decision
to use e-cigarettes during pregnancy was often an impulse decision, based on recommendations
made by friends, family or medical providers [26 ]. Similarly, some forum users in our study reported getting recommendations to use
e-cigarettes during pregnancy from partners, friends or medical providers. A previous
study by England et al. [47 ] found that 14% of obstetricians and gynecologists are of the opinion that e-cigarettes
have no health effects. Since perceived norms play an important role in decisions
to perform a behavior [19 ], future prevention strategies need to address misleading messages.
Strengths and limitations
Given the increasing rates of e-cigarette use worldwide and the known harmful effects
of nicotine on fetal development, the topic of our manuscript is timely and has a
high public health relevance. Our mixed methods study is innovative, as it examines
risk perceptions of e-cigarette use during pregnancy from different perspectives and
provides in-depth information on various constructs of risk perception. In addition,
we based our analysis on an integrated Health Belief Model, another innovative approach.
However, our study has several limitations, which have been extensively described
in our previous published study protocol [24 ]. We therefore only describe the most important limitations of our study below.
Qualitative study part
As is common in qualitative research, the aim is not to produce representative results.
Instead, in this part of the study we were interested in the range of underlying aspects
of risk perceptions regarding e-cigarette use during pregnancy. Online discussion
threads are suitable for this, because they allow anonymous exchanges of opinions,
making them predestined to explore stigmatized and taboo topics such as tobacco and
e-cigarette use during pregnancy [23 ], [25 ], [48 ]. However, it must be acknowledged that the qualitative data was collected in 2017,
and thus may not represent current opinions about e-cigarette use during pregnancy.
Quantitative study part
A main limitation of the quantitative part of our study is its representativeness.
Our results cannot be generalized to all pregnant women in Germany, since the study
sample was based on a single clinic in Hamburg (cf. [24 ] for more information). Another important limitation is the sample size. The sample
sizes in some cross tables did not meet the requirements for statistical tests. In
addition, the number of participants who used e-cigarettes during pregnancy was too
small to evaluate whether the constructs of risk perception we identified predict
current e-cigarette use during pregnancy.
Conclusion
Our innovative and integrative mixed methods approach revealed a complex picture of
the IHBM constructs “perceived threats”, “perceived benefits”, “perceived barriers”,
“attitudes and perceived norms” regarding e-cigarette use during pregnancy. Our innovative,
netnographic, qualitative and traditionally quantitative study found a considerable
number of perceived threats and various perceived barriers and negative attitudes.
However, these negative perceptions were accompanied by various perceived benefits,
especially among current users of tobacco cigarettes. The multiple health risks of
e-cigarette use during pregnancy need to be critically addressed by obstetricians,
gynecologists and midwives and also in future smoking cessation programs for pregnant
smokers.
Declarations
Ethical approval and patient consent
This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Medical Faculty of
Mannheim (Heidelberg University; 2017-505N-MA) and the Ethics Committee of the Hamburg
Medical Chamber (MC-178/17).
As is common and ethically tenable in research activities using online forums, forum
users were not informed about their posts being used for research purposes. The threads
were publicly available, and no registration was required to read the threads in the
online forums [24 ].
In the quantitative section of the study, participants received a survey package providing
information about the objectives, procedure, risks, benefits, study contacts and data
security. In addition, participants were assured that participation was voluntary,
and that non-participation would have no negative consequences and no impact on their
further treatment at the hospital. Moreover, the participants had the opportunity
to withdraw their consent. Only participants who gave their consent were included
in the study [24 ].
Funding
The authors received no funding for this study.
