Abstract Rationale Inhalant use behaviors are increasingly complex, with individuals frequently alternating between or combining nicotine and cannabis vaping and smoking. However, participants often struggle to accurately report specifics of their inhalant use and frequency, which complicates efforts to assess health impacts. Here, we characterized inhalant use behaviors in San Diego and explored self-report challenges encountered during participant enrollment. Method A longitudinal study was conducted in adults aged 18-35. Ninety-seven subjects (65 female, 32 male) were recruited, enrolled, and categorized by self-reported inhalant use into non-vaper/non-smoker (NVNS), nicotine vaper, cannabis vaper, dual nicotine/cannabis vaper, and dual vaper with combustible use (dual vaper/smoker). The cohort included 25 NVNS controls, 36 nicotine vapers, 2 cannabis vapers, 9 dual vapers, 23 dual vaper/smokers, and 2 combustible smokers. Participants completed three surveys: (1) a brief phone questionnaire before enrollment, (2) an online self-administered UCSD Inhalant Survey before the clinic visit, and (3) an in-person UCSD Inhalant Survey administered by a research coordinator. A demographic questionnaire was also completed at the clinic visit. Consistency of self-reported inhalant type and use pattern was assessed across all three surveys. Results E-cigarette use was most common among individuals aged 18-24. Of the 65 females, 21 (32.3%) were NVNS controls, 20 (30.8%) were nicotine vapers, 1 (1.5%) was a cannabis vaper, 8 (12.3%) were dual vapers, 14 (21.5%) were dual vapers/smokers, and 1 (1.5%) was a combustible smoker (see Figure). Of the 32 males, 4 (12.5%) were NVNS controls, 16 (50%) were nicotine vapers, 1 (3.1%) was a cannabis vaper, 1 (3.1%) was a dual vaper, 9 (28.1%) were dual vapers/smokers, and 1 (3.1%) was a combustible smoker (see Figure). Of 97 subjects, 14 (14.4%) had consistent answers across all surveys, 50 (51.5%) across 2 of the 3 surveys, and 34 (35.1%) across none of the 3 surveys. Fifty unique subgroups were formed based on previous and current use of any inhalant type. Conclusion Poor agreement across survey responses indicates inconsistent self-reporting. Confusion about the questions, forgetfulness about exact inhalant use, inattentiveness while answering (clicking through quickly without reading thoroughly), or embarrassment can lead to misreporting. Most discrepancies were found in the short phone survey, followed by the self-administered UCSD inhalant survey. Frequent changes in vaping terminology may hinder accurate self-reporting, which can be elucidated during in-person discussions and result in more accurate classifications. Therefore, regularly updated survey language and in-person administration can improve data reliability. This abstract is funded by: NIH NHLBI, R01 HL137052 NIH NHLBI, K24 HL155884 TRDRP T30IP0965 TRDRP T34IR8251 VA Merit Award, 1I01BX006447
Kasaraneni et al. (Fri,) studied this question.