The Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Regarding Electronic Cigarette Use among Students at Ubon Ratchathani University

Abstract

The prevalence of electronic cigarette usage is notably increasing, particularly among adolescents. This trend is largely attributed to advertisements that assert these products are nicotine-free and harmless to both users and bystanders, leading to a rise in the number of new smokers. This phenomenon is evident in the escalating rates of e-cigarette consumption among young individuals. The present study seeks to examine the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors concerning e-cigarette use among students at Ubon Ratchathani University, as well as the factors influencing these aspects. Data were collected from a sample of 375 undergraduate students, spanning years 1 to 6, at Ubon Ratchathani University. The data collection instrument was a questionnaire, which demonstrated an average reliability value of 0.85, as determined by Cronbach's alpha coefficient. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, and chi-square tests.

Results: The study revealed that the level of knowledge regarding electronic cigarette use was moderate (Mean = 5.39, S.D. = 2.92), as were attitudes towards electronic cigarette use (Mean = 1.83, S.D. = 0.46), while the behavior associated with electronic cigarette use was at a low level (Mean = 2.39, S.D. = 1.68). A positive correlation was observed: gender exhibited a very low positive correlation with both knowledge and electronic cigarette use behavior; age, income, and having friends who smoke demonstrated a low positive correlation with electronic cigarette use behavior, with statistical significance at the .05 level. Family factors and advertising media showed no correlation with knowledge, attitudes, or electronic cigarette use behavior at the .05 level of statistical significance. The findings of this study can inform the development of educational guidelines on the harms of electronic cigarettes, strategies for controlling youth access, and measures for effectively preventing and reducing electronic cigarette use among students.