Knowledge and attitudes toward e-cigarette smoking among health and non-health science students: A cross-sectional...

E-cigarettes are increasingly popular among university students, raising significant public health concerns. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of e-cigarette use, as well as knowledge, and attitudes toward e-cigarettes among health and non-health science undergraduate students in Thailand.

A cross-sectional survey among health and non-health science students in Thailand was conducted between March and September 2023 using a self-administered online questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-squared tests, and multivariate logistic regression.

Among 440 participants, 37.05% were from health science programs and 62.95% from non-health science. E-cigarette use was reported by 15.7% of health science and 27.7% of non-health science students (p=0.001). Significant differences were also found in income (p<0.001), family smoking history (p=0.006), and alcohol consumption (p<0.001). Health science students had greater awareness of health risks, including lung inflammation (91.4% vs 85.9%, p=0.04, AOR=0.69; 95% CI: 0.47-0.98) and lung cancer (90.8% vs. 81.6%, p=0.006, AOR=1.62; 95% CI: 1.14-2.28). In contrast, non-health science students were more likely to believe e-cigarettes aid smoking cessation (39.4% vs 21.5%, p=0.02, AOR=1.36; 95% CI: 1.05-1.77). Despite these differences, misconceptions about nicotine addiction and safety remained common across both groups.

The findings highlight the need for targeted educational programs and public health interventions to address misconceptions and discourage e-cigarette use among university students. Improved health education is essential to equip students with accurate information for making informed decisions about e-cigarettes.