Patchaya Kochsiripong and Prompiriya Pitirattanaworranat

DOI: 10.14456/sjst-psu.2021.5

pp. 31 - 36

Abstract

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.