Predicting factors of e-cigarettes use behavior among higher education students in Phitsanulok province

Abstract

E–cigarettes are toxic and damage to health but popular among teenagers. This predictive correlation research aimed to study predicting factor of e–cigarette use behavior among higher education students in Phitsanulok Province. The sample consisted of 380 male and female students studying at a bachelor's degree, aged 18 years old and above which selected by a multi–stage random sampling. The research instrument was questionnaire regarding perception, attitudes and behavior towards e-cigarette use with reliabilities ​​at 0.78, 0.81, and 0.77, respectively. The predicting factors were analyzed by stepwise multiple regression analysis. The results showed that e-cigarettes use behaviors were at low level of 35.0%. The factors of e-cigarettes use behaviors at the level of 95% statistical significance were described as e-cigarette use of people around them (β=0.372), experience of receiving information about e-cigarettes selling via the Internet (β=0.261), perception about the dangers of e-cigarettes (β=0.173), and attitude toward prevent using e -cigarettes (β=0.125) which could predict at 47.3 percent (R²=0.473). The findings suggested that university executives and related staffs should develop strategies to control and prevent e-cigarette use among higher education students by promoting correct perception, and attitude towards e-cigarette use to contribute the correct behavior, which can be conducted by providing health education training as well as organizing club activities to prevent students from initiate smoking in the campus.