University students' knowledge about and attitudes toward e-cigarette use and factors influencing students' e-cigarette use
ISSN: 0965-4283
Article publication date: 26 January 2021
Issue publication date: 1 February 2021
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate university students' knowledge about and attitudes toward e-cigarette (EC) use. It will also examine whether students' EC use is associated with knowledge about and attitudes toward EC use. The study also aims to analyze the determinants of students' use of ECs. The effects of gender, smoking behavior and friends' and family members' smoking behaviors on students' use of ECs were analyzed.
Design/methodology/approach
Completed questionnaire surveys were received from 1,362 students at King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi in Bangkok City, Thailand, in November and December 2019. Chi-square tests and an independent samples t-test were conducted to determine whether students' knowledge about ECs and attitudes toward EC use influenced their use of ECs. A logistic regression analysis was performed to identify significant factors affecting students' use of ECs.
Findings
The results revealed that students' EC use was associated with knowledge about ECs: Students with less knowledge about the harmful effects of ECs were more likely to use them. In addition, students who were EC users had more positive attitudes toward EC use than those who were not EC users. The results also revealed that male students, students who had also smoked tobacco cigarettes and students with friends who smoked tobacco cigarettes were more likely to use ECs. These results could suggest strategies to reduce the use of ECs among university students.
Originality/value
This study provides deep understanding about university students' knowledge about and attitudes toward EC use and their participation in EC use. The result clearly shows university students who are participating in EC use still have less knowledge about EC, thus, they have positive attitudes toward ECs. Gaining social acceptance from friends who use EC also influences students' decision to use EC. Therefore, EC use among students could significantly increase overall EC use.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The research was financially supported by the School of Liberal Arts, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi. The authors would like to thank all students who participated in the questionnaire surveys. Publishing is supported by the Research, Innovation, and Partnerships Offices, King Monkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand.Author contributions: A conceived the idea of the study. B carried out literature reviews. A carried out data collection and data analysis. Both authors drafted the manuscript, read and approved the final manuscript.Conflicts of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Citation
Chudech, S. and Janmaimool, P. (2021), "University students' knowledge about and attitudes toward e-cigarette use and factors influencing students' e-cigarette use", Health Education, Vol. 121 No. 2, pp. 215-226. https://doi.org/10.1108/HE-11-2020-0107
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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