Mapping the use of, perception, and knowledge about e-cigarettes among dental students: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

The consumption of e-cigarettes is increasing steadily among university students. This might be due to its greater social acceptance related to its contemporary look and variety of flavors. In this context, the objective of this study is to map the use and identify the perceptions and knowledge of the effects of e-cigarette use among dental students at the University of Brasília, Brazil.

METHODS

A questionnaire on use, perceptions, and knowledge about electronic cigarettes was anonymously distributed to 303 dental students at the University of Brasília, Brazil. Of these students, 184 (60.72%) answered the questionnaire. Descriptive and analytical statistics were performed using proportions and mean values, and the chi-square test was applied to identify significant differences between quantitative variables. To investigate factors associated with the use of these devices and participants' confidence in answering questions about e-cigarettes, two binary logistic regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Most participants knew about e-cigarettes but had never used them (63.60%), and 46.70% of the students received some information about the effects of e-cigarettes during undergraduate education. The main factor that influenced the use of e-cigarettes was curiosity (73.38%), followed by friends (63.15%). Participants who received information about e-cigarette use during undergraduate education had more knowledge of its association with cancer incidence and impairment of oral health (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Considering that the risks and health effects of using e-cigarettes are still unknown in the long term, it is necessary to implement educational strategies in health courses to promote students as health educators. However, additional studies are needed to establish whether these findings are similar among larger samples.