Attitudes and perceptions toward electronic cigarettes among undergraduate health science students, Rangsit University, Thailand

• Main Authors: Patchaya Kochsiripong, Prompiriya Pitirattanaworranat
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Prince of Songkla University 2021-02-01
• Series: Songklanakarin Journal of Science and Technology (SJST)
• Subjects: e-cigarettes; attitude; perception; health science students; misperception
• Online Access: http://rdo.psu.ac.th/sjstweb/journal/43-1/5.pdf

Objective: This study aimed to explore the attitudes and perceptions toward electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use among undergraduate health science students. Methods: A survey was performed in January to May 2019. The data collection was conducted through selfadministered questionnaires, which probed demographic data, attitudes, and perceptions toward e-cigarette use. Descriptive statistics were used to present the demographic data and misperception prevalence. The data on e-cigarette users and non-users were compared using Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine predictive factors of e-cigarette use. Results: The in total of 415 students by quota sampling were mostly female. Approximately 20% of the students were e-cigarette users whereas 10% were tobacco users. The major source of knowledge about e-cigarettes was friends or close friends, while only 14% was from curriculum. The predictive factors of e-cigarette use were tobacco use, being around smokers, and alcohol consumption. E-cigarette users were found to have more misperceptions than those not using e-cigarettes in several dimensions: health impacts, addiction, appearance, smoking cessation, and legal exception. Conclusions: Undergraduate health science students had misperceptions about e-cigarettes in several aspects. The information about e-cigarettes in the curriculum was insufficient and posters or boards in the university were not effective. Consequently, supplementary knowledge should be provided and attractive smoking cessation campaigns should be created.