Knowledge and attitudes toward the clinical usage of e-cigarettes among medical students in a public sector university of Karachi

Mehreen Fatima; Mahnoor Najib; Qarsam Arsha; Nargis Ali; Saba Zulfiqar; Muhammad Abdullah Mashriqi; Adil Shah; Yumna Khan

doi:10.46663/ajsmu.v11i2.40-45

Mehreen Fatima Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, DIMC, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
Mahnoor Najib Final Year Student, DIMC, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
Qarsam Arsha Final Year Student, DIMC, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
Nargis Ali Final Year Student, DIMC, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
Saba Zulfiqar Final Year Student, DIMC, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
Muhammad Abdullah Mashriqi Final Year Student, DIMC, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
Adil Shah Final Year Student, DIMC, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
Yumna Khan Final Year Student, DIMC, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.46663/ajsmu.v11i2.40-45

Keywords: Knowledge, attitudes, clinical usage, e-cigarettes, medical students

Abstract

Objective:

This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes toward the clinical usage of e-cigarettes among medical students in a public sector university of Karachi.

Methods:

A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among the undergraduate MBBS students from first year to final year including both the genders through convenient sampling technique. A self-administered structured questionnaire was administered to the participants. The questionnaire comprises of four sections.

Results:

Total 301 participants were included in the study with a mean age of 22.88±3.951 years. Most of the study participants were females (58.5%) and majority of the participants were studying in their final year (43.2%). When cigarette smoking status was inquired, it was found that majority of the participants were not smoking conventional cigarettes (77.7%). Most of the participants (73.4%) agreed that they have heard about the e-cigarettes. When participants were inquired if they smoke e-cigarettes, majority of them denied of smoking (n=251, 83.3%), however, of them who smoke e-cigarettes, 52% smoke e-cigarettes daily. Further, most of the female participant

agreed that e-cigarettes are less harmful than conventional cigarettes significantly as compared to males (P-value = 0.002 Vs. 0.597).

Conclusion:

It was found that participants had adequate knowledge about e-cigarettes and a little positive attitude towards the clinical use of e-cigarettes. Further, males were found more knowledgeable than females in most of the aspects.

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