タイの非正規教育学生における電子タバコ使用意図とその影響要因の探求：横断研究

Non-formal education students are a vulnerable group due to social influences and varying health literacy. However, evidence on their intention to use e-cigarettes and influencing factors is limited. This study aimed to investigate these intentions and associated factors among students in Bangkok, Thailand.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among non-formal education students in Bangkok, Central Thailand, aged 13-24 years, who had never used e-cigarettes. A total of 116 participants were included in the study. Data were collected between 1 and 15 August 2025 using a self-administered structured questionnaire designed to assess knowledge, attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and intention to use e-cigarettes, based on the Theory of Planned Behavior. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression were applied to identify factors associated with the intention to use e-cigarettes.

Only 2.6% of participants reported an intention to use e-cigarettes, 6.90% indicated that they might use them in the future, while 90.52% reported no intention to use e-cigarettes. Most participants demonstrated high knowledge of e-cigarettes (62.07%) and negative attitudes toward use (63.79%). Subjective norms were rated high (59.48%), and perceived behavioral control was very high (48.28%). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that attitudes (β=0.223; 95% CI: 0.03-0.41, p=0.025) and subjective norms (β=0.211; 95% CI: 0.02-0.39, p=0.032) had significant positive effects on the intention to use e-cigarettes. Overall, the model explained 15.0% of the variance (R²=0.150, adjusted R²=0.119; F=4.90, p=0.001).

The findings highlight the importance of fostering negative attitudes toward e-cigarette use and reducing the influence of subjective norms among students. However, as this study employed a cross-sectional design, further longitudinal and interventional studies are needed to confirm these relationships and provide stronger evidence for the prevention of e-cigarette use among non-formal education students.