E-cigarette Attitude and Belief Scale in Adolescents: A Validity and Reliability Study

Area of Science:

• Adolescent Health
• Public Health
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use is a growing global concern among adolescents.
• Prevalence rates indicate significant substance use in this demographic, necessitating further research.
• Understanding adolescent motivations for e-cigarette use is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a scale measuring adolescent attitudes and beliefs towards e-cigarette use.
• To provide a reliable instrument for assessing psychological factors influencing adolescent e-cigarette uptake.
• To facilitate research into the drivers of e-cigarette consumption among young people.

Main Methods:

• Development of a 31-item scale (20 belief, 11 attitude items) based on existing literature.
• Recruitment of 340 adolescents (aged 14-18) attending pediatric outpatient clinics.
• Rigorous psychometric testing including factor analyses, reliability, and validity assessments.

Main Results:

• An 18-item "E-cigarette Attitude and Belief Scale in Adolescents" was finalized.
• The scale demonstrated sufficient validity and reliability through comprehensive statistical analyses.
• The instrument effectively measures attitudes and beliefs concerning e-cigarette use in adolescents.

Conclusions:

• The validated scale is a valuable tool for future research on adolescent e-cigarette use.
• Insights from the scale can inform the development of targeted educational and awareness programs.
• Understanding adolescent perspectives is key to addressing the public health challenge of e-cigarette use.