Risk and benefit perception of electronic cigarette among non-smokers in Yogyakarta province

Smoking cigarette or tobacco in any form can be a serious killer and harmful for millions of people every year. Tobacco has been developed into many variants, the latest one is electric cigarette (e-cigarette) or vape. This research aimed to find out the perception of e-cigarette’s risk and benefit among non-smokers and what factors affecting the risk and benefit perception of e-cigarette. This study was a cross-sectional design and used validated self-administered questionnaire. Questionnaire divided into three section: sociodemographic characteristics, smoking characteristics, risk and benefit perception statements. Respondents were non-smokers in the province of Yogyakarta and selected by convenience sampling. Data were analyzed descriptively and bivariate by using Chi-Square to identify the factors associated with risk and benefit perception among non-smokers. The results showed that from 241 respondents, 18 (7.5) were former smokers who had experience using vape but already quit, and 223 (92.5) were never use vape. Most of non-smokers respondent in Yogyakarta province have a high perception about e-cigarette risk and low perception about e-cigarette benefit. Respondent sociodemographics (sex, age, education level, current usage of vape and income/pocket money) are not significantly influence the e-cigarette risk perception among non-smokers in Yogyakarta province. Only smoking status or current respondent usage of vape that significantly influence e-cigarette benefit perception among non-smokers in Yogyakarta province (p-value < 0.05). Smoking status or current vape usage from respondent is significantly influence the benefit perception of e-cigarette by OR value 0.155 (0.054-0.444) and p-value 0.001 (p-value <0.05). This study provides novel information on the use and risk-benefit perception of e-cigarette among non-smokers in Yogyakarta. However, further research is needed with different study designs so that it can identify predictors of future e-cigarette use from non-smokers. It is needed to explore the factors associated with e-cigarette use in various regions and cities in Indonesia so it can represent nationally. Further, the government can make a more comprehensive e-cigarette policy regarding to the all levels of society. © 2020 IJSTR.