eHealth literacy regarding e-cigarettes, its predictors, and its relationship with behaviors for preventing e-cigarette initiation and supporting smoking cessation among nursing students in educational institutions in Northeastern Thailand

Authors

  • Khwanruen Kaenkong Institute of Nursing, Suranaree University of Technology
  • Piches Ruangsuksud Faculty of nursing, Khon Kaen University
  • Chirawan Chaivisith Faculty of Nursing, College of Asian Scholars
  • Pipatpong Kempanya Boromarajonani College of Nursing Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Phanom University

Keywords:

smoking prevention, smoking cessation, health literacy, nursing students, electronic nicotine delivery systems

Abstract

A descriptive, correlational, and predictive study was conducted to examine the level of eHealth literacy regarding e-cigarettes, identify predictors of eHealth literacy, and determine the relationship between eHealth literacy and behaviors related to e-cigarette initiation prevention and smoking cessation support. The sample consisted of 327 nursing students enrolled in Bachelor of Nursing Science programs at four higher education institutions in Northeastern Thailand. Participants were selected using proportionate quota sampling, with participation being voluntary. Data were collected using: 1) a demographic questionnaire, 2) a questionnaire on e-cigarette use and environmental factors, 3) the eHealth Literacy Scale regarding e-cigarettes, and 4) a questionnaire on behaviors related to e-cigarette initiation prevention and smoking cessation support. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple linear regression.

The results showed that nursing students had a high overall level of eHealth literacy regarding e-cigarettes (M = 74.21, SD = 8.90). Significant predictors of eHealth literacy included cumulative grade point average, gender, exposure to e-cigarette information through TikTok, and age, which together explained 41.2% of the variance in eHealth literacy (R² = 0.412, p < 0.001). eHealth literacy was positively associated with behaviors related to e-cigarette initiation prevention and smoking cessation support at a moderate level (r = 0.528, p < 0.001). These findings support efforts to enhance digital information literacy skills related to e-cigarettes among nursing students to improve their capacity for preventing e-cigarette use and smoking cessation support.

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Published

2026-09-11

How to Cite

1.
Kaenkong K, Ruangsuksud P, Chaivisith C, Kempanya P. eHealth literacy regarding e-cigarettes, its predictors, and its relationship with behaviors for preventing e-cigarette initiation and supporting smoking cessation among nursing students in educational institutions in Northeastern Thailand. J Nurs Sci Health [internet]. 2026 Sep. 11 [cited 2026 Sep. 21];49(3):24-37. available from: https://he01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/nah/article/view/286732

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Research Article