Nível de conhecimento sobre cigarro eletrônico entre universitários da área da saúde

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge about electronic cigarettes (ECs) among healthcare university students. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a convenience sample at a philanthropic university in the capital of the state of Goiás, Brazil, involving students from physiotherapy, nursing, nutrition, speech therapy, and psychology courses. A questionnaire on EC knowledge was administered, based on validated surveys (Global Health Professional Students Survey and Global Youth Tobacco Survey). The sample comprised 164 students from a philanthropic university in Goiás, enrolled in courses at the School of Social Sciences and Health, with a mean age of 22.1 ± 7.2 years, including 29 (18.8%) males and 125 (81.2%) females. Approximately half of the students used ECs (50.6%), with 34.4% admitting to being users or former users, 55.8% having experimented with at least one or two puffs, and 19.5% having attempted to quit EC use in the last year. Most students rated their level of knowledge about ECs as moderate. 33.1% were unsure if ECs were more harmful than conventional cigarettes, and 75.3% believed ECs contained carcinogens. This study highlights the lack of knowledge among healthcare students about electronic cigarettes (ECs), influenced by inaccurate information, particularly from advertisements. This distorts the perception of ECs as a safer alternative to conventional smoking, despite health risks. Misunderstandings among healthcare professionals may lead to inadequate patient guidance. It is essential to implement educational initiatives and awareness campaigns to correct these perceptions and promote an accurate understanding of the risks associated with EC use. University students had a self-perception of low to moderate knowledge, lacking awareness about the compounds present in electronic cigarettes, including nicotine and carcinogenic substances, university regulations, secondhand smoke, and the comparison between electronic and conventional cigarettes.