Characteristics of the Tobacco User Adult Cohort in Urban and Rural Ohio

Objectives Identifying characteristics associated with the use of new and emerging tobacco products is a priority. The enumeration and baseline characteristics of a new cohort of adult tobacco users are described. Methods Residents, ≥18 years of age, in urban Franklin County, or one of 6 rural Appalachian counties, and who were exclusive users of combustible, smokeless (SLT), or electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) tobacco products, or were dual users, were targeted for recruitment. Participants were interviewed in-person at baseline on sociodemographic characteristics, tobacco product use, and cognitive/affective and purchasing factors. Results We recruited 1210 participants (urban, N = 595; rural, N = 615). Urban participants were less likely to use tobacco daily, began using tobacco later, used tobacco for less time, and had higher cessation interest. ENDS users were significantly less likely to have made a quit attempt than users of other tobacco products. Duration of tobacco use and nicotine dependence also differed by product type. Conclusion This cohort's enumeration allowed us to compare factors associated with tobacco product preferences and the use of novel products. The inclusion of rural Appalachia-a region with high tobacco use and disease burden-may provide additional insights into the implementation of tobacco control interventions.