Prevalence and Associated Factors of Electronic Cigarette Use among University Students in Sakon Nakhon Province

Abstract

Electronic cigarettes represent a critical global public health challenge, particularly among youth and university students where the number of users is steadily increasing. Despite Thailand's legal prohibition on the import and sale of e-cigarettes, the prevalence of their use continues to rise. This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with e-cigarette use among 250 university students in Sakon Nakhon Province. Participants were selected using stratified systematic sampling, and data were collected via questionnaires from December 1 to 26, 2025.

The research findings indicated that the participants had a mean age of 19.8 years (S.D.=1.0), with 58.0% being female. Regarding personal history, 17.2% of the students had used conventional cigarettes, and 56.8% had consumed alcohol. While 58.0% of the students possessed a moderate level of knowledge regarding e-cigarettes, 79.6% maintained a negative attitude toward their use. The prevalence of students who had ever used e-cigarettes was 22.8%. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified four key factors significantly associated with e-cigarette use, including a history of conventional cigarette use (AOR = 7.4, 95%CI: 2.9 - 18.7), lack of exposure to anti-vaping advertisements (AOR = 5.6, 95%CI: 2.3 - 13.6), having family members who use e-cigarettes (AOR = 4.8, 95%CI: 1.5 - 15.1), and a history of alcohol consumption (AOR = 4.6, 95%CI: 1.7 - 12.3). Therefore, monitoring for e-cigarette use should be prioritized among high-risk groups, specifically those with a history of smoking or alcohol use and those with family members who vape. Furthermore, it is essential to develop diverse and inclusive anti-vaping media campaigns while integrating them with efforts to reduce conventional cigarette and alcohol consumption to effectively prevent subsequent e-cigarette initiation