Comparing E-Cigarette Smoking Behaviors and Purchasing Decisions among Students between Vocational Institutes in Urban and Suburban Areas, Amnat Charoen Province

Abstract

This comparative descriptive research aimed to study e-cigarette smoking behaviors and purchasing decisions and also comparing e-cigarette smoking behaviors and purchasing decisions among students between vocational institutes in urban and suburban areas, Amnat Charoen province. Participants were 191 vocational students in urban and suburban areas selected by multi-stage sampling. Questionnaires were used to collect data including personal information, e-cigarette smoking behaviors and purchasing decisions with the reliability of .90. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and Chi-square Test of independent.

The results revealed that most participants in both areas had similar personal information showing as males aged 17 years old, having income received from parents 3,600 baht per month, using e-cigarette before (66% and 48.7% respectively), having no family member using e-cigarette (79.1% and 51.3% respectively), and having close friends using e-cigarette (87.4% and 42.9% respectively). E-cigarette smoking behaviors and purchasing decisions of students in both areas were at low levels (50.6% and 49.4% respectively). When comparing e-cigarette smoking behaviors of students in both area, there were significant difference (p<0.001), but their purchasing decisions were not different.

Therefore, the relevant organizations including Department of Disease Control, Office of the Consumer Protection Board, health personnel, teachers and schools should recognize the importance of e-cigarette smoking behavior problem of vocational students and apply the results of this study to plan and promote for adjusting and decreasing e-cigarette smoking behaviors in vocational students. In addition, the results of this study could be applied for developing programs for others to decrease e-cigarette smoking.