Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Smoking-Addiction between Students of Medical Sciences Regarding Electron-Cigarettes

ABSTRACT

Introduction: E-cigarettes or vaping have increased amongthe young generation especially between college students, Ecigarettes are electronic products with a small pump and liquidtank who emerged to the public in the past 20 years. Ecigarettes users can be motivated by their urge for theirnicotine addiction, trying to stop smoking R-cigarettes, practicesmoking in places where R-cigarettes are prohibited, simplypleasures or seeking trying new things.Objectives: A survey study to assess knowledge, attitude andaddiction of E-cigarettes among college of medical sciencesstudents.Methods: This cross-sectional study of a convenient samplecovered 337 students in the four departments nursing,laboratory, radiology and physiotherapy. A web-basedquestioner was distributed to all students. Data collectedincluded age groups, department and smoking status werecollected.Results: The response was 25% of the total students at thecollege, data showed only about 26% of all students aresmokers, ex-smokers and passive smokers. The findings arecuriously different between smokers’ groups. R-cigarettes arethe preferred choice of most of the students. Whole smokersgroup believe that E-cigarettes are more addictive than Rcigarettes.Conclusion: There is a lack of knowledge, also differentopinions emerged between the whole smokers and nonsmokers groups. Whole smokers believe E-cigarettes are moreaddictive while non-smokers have contradictory opinion.