Exploring Non-Cigarette Tobacco Product Use Experience Among Foreign-Born Koreans in District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.

BACKGROUND

Non-cigarette tobacco product use behavior among foreign-born Koreans in the U.S. remains understudied and is poorly captured in most national surveys.

OBJECTIVES

This study explored the non-cigarette tobacco product use patterns, acculturation influences, and associated factors among foreign-born Korean young adults (aged 18-39 years) in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.

METHODS

Twenty-one participants (aged 18-39 years) in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia who currently or formerly used any non-cigarette tobacco products completed a 60-minute semi-structured in-depth interview. Individual interviews were transcribed verbatim, coded, and analyzed thematically.

RESULTS

Electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS), hookah, and IQOS were the most commonly used non-cigarette tobacco products. Participants demonstrated ambivalence toward ENDS and hookah, frequently perceiving these as less harmful than traditional cigarettes. Peer influence served as the primary driver of smoking initiation. Participants' behaviors reflected influences from both Korean and American smoking cultures, with varying impacts based on acculturation levels. Price significantly influenced purchasing decisions, with increased consumption during sales promotions and coupons availability.

CONCLUSION

These findings provide meaningful insights into non-cigarette tobacco use patterns and influencing factors among foreign-born Koreans in the United States. As multiple cultural, social, and economic factors shape tobacco use in this population, culturally-tailored research and prevention interventions are needed to address established and emerging risks associated with non-cigarette tobacco products.