Health Literacy Regarding Electronic Cigarette Smoking Behavior among First-Year University Students

Abstract

This Descriptive research aimed to study: 1) Health literacy about e-cigarettes, 2) e-cigarette smoking behavior, and 3) the relationship between personal characteristics and Health literacy about e-cigarettes. The sample consisted of 311 first-year undergraduate students in the academic year 2025, selected through stratified random sampling. The research instrument was a questionnaire validated and confirmed using IOC values ranging from 0.67 to 1.00. The reliability of knowledge and understanding about e-cigarettes was assessed using KR-20 = 0.90, and the reliability of Health literacy about e-cigarettes was assessed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient = 0.81-0.92. Data were collected by sending a questionnaire link via Google Forms and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Relationships between variables were examined using the Chi-square test.

The results revealed that 2.3% of the sample currently smoked e-cigarettes, while 12.9% had previously smoked and subsequently quit. Knowledge and understanding about e-cigarettes, access to information and communication about e-cigarettes, media literacy about e-cigarettes, and decision-making regarding e-cigarette use were all at a high level (Mean = 14.91, S.D. = 2.71), (Mean = 14.51, S.D. = 3.72), (Mean = 20.40, S.D. = 4.58), and (Mean = 20.03, S.D. = 5.54) respectively. Health communication about e-cigarettes was low level (Mean = 17.13, S.D. = 5.32) and overall health literacy about e-cigarettes was moderate level (Mean = 86.98, S.D. = 16.27). The marital status of parents was statistically significantly associated with Health literacy about e-cigarettes (p-value <0.05). Gender, age, faculty, academic performance, housing characteristics, monthly income, and the presence of family members or close associates who smoke were not significantly associated with Health literacy about e-cigarettes.

Recommendations: Educational institutions and families should encourage students to develop Health literacy regarding electronic cigarettes, with a particular emphasis on health communication skills about e-cigarettes, in order to prevent e-cigarette smoking behavior.