Wemerson José Corrêa de Oliveira1,a, Alexandre Figueiredo Zobiole1,b, Claudia Bonadiman de Lima1,c, Rebeca Melo Zurita1,d, Pedro Eduarto Muniz Flores1,e, Luís Guilherme Val Rodrigues1,f, Raissa Carolina de Assis Pinheiro1,g, Victor Francisco Figueiredo Rocha Soares e Silva1,h
J Bras Pneumol.2018;44(5):367-369
Objective: To analyze the prevalence of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) awareness and experimentation among university students, as well as the characteristics associated with that awareness. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, conducted in 2015, in which 489 university students at the Federal University of Mato Grosso (Cuiabá campus), Brazil, were interviewed with the use of a specific questionnaire. We estimated the prevalence of e-cigarette awareness and use, as well as analyzing the major characteristics associated with that awareness and use. Results: The prevalence of e-cigarette awareness was 37%, and the rate of e-cigarette experimentation was 2.7%. Awareness of e-cigarettes was found to be associated with marital status, work status, the level of parental education, and the presence or absence of smokers in the family. Conclusions: A high proportion of university students were aware of e-cigarettes. Although the prevalence of those who had experimented with e-cigarettes was low, there is concern that there could be an increase in the use of these types of device. There is a need for measures targeting university students, in order to build awareness of and prevent e-cigarette use.
Keywords: Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; Young adult; Smoking.