Health Beliefs and Preventive Behaviors Regarding E-Cigarette Use Among Thai Private University Students in the Digital Age
Keywords:
Health Beliefs, Preventive Behaviors, E-Cigarettes, Private University Students, Digital AgeAbstract
This research employs a mixed-methods approach to examine health beliefs and preventive behaviors regarding e-cigarette use among private university students in Thailand during the digital era. The study sample consisted of undergraduate students from years 1-4, aged 18-30 years. The research instruments comprised a Health Belief Model questionnaire assessing attitudes and behaviors toward e-cigarette use, complemented by qualitative inquiries exploring health beliefs and behaviors in the digital context. The instruments demonstrated robust psychometric properties, with a Content Validity Index (CVI) of .85 and a Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient of .80. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation) and Chi-Square testing to examine relationships between variables.
The quantitative findings revealed that the majority of students associated e-cigarette use with significant health risks, including lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, and periodontal complications. Three key factors—gender, perceived susceptibility, and perceived barriers—demonstrated the strongest correlations with preventive behaviors, highlighting the crucial role of perceptual factors in shaping e-cigarette prevention behaviors among the sample population. The qualitative analysis provided additional insights, revealing that while students recognized the health benefits of cessation, they faced significant challenges due to nicotine withdrawal symptoms, manifesting as irritability and anxiety. Furthermore, while digital media played a central role in students’ daily lives, they maintained moderate skepticism regarding the reliability of digital healthinformation, suggesting a nuanced relationship between digital media consumption and health information trust.
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