INTRODUCTION E-cigarette use is an emerging phenomenon with increasing recognition and acceptance globally. This study aims to create a profile of e-cigarette users among university students in Malaysia. METHODS The study was conducted using a cross-sectional research involving six universities in Malaysia. A semi-structured questionnaire was distributed to 1302 randomly selected students, who either smoked cigarettes and/or e-cigarettes. The 2011 version of Global Adult Tobacco Surveys (GATS) tool was used to record the respondents’ sociodemographic data. RESULTS The study revealed that 74.9% of the respondents smoked e-cigarettes; 40.3% used both cigarettes and e-cigarettes (dual users), and 34.5% were exclusive e-cigarette users. The exclusive use of e-cigarettes was related to gender (OR=0.18, 95% CI: 0.09–0.39). Also, male respondents were the majority users (95%). Of the respondents, 75.2 % were Malays, 98.0% single and most believed they have no health problems (92.1%). Further findings revealed the occurrence of adverse effects, dizziness 14.4%, cough 14.1%, and headaches 12.4%. Overall, 57.8% of the respondents used e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool, while others consider e-cigarettes a self-image enhancing tool or as part of social activities. CONCLUSIONS Further research on the use of e-cigarettes should be conducted on a large number of respondents in other settings to augment the findings of this study, and also guide policy making on and prevention practice of e-cigarette use, among the general student population in Malaysia.

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Work-related stress is an imbalance between work-related demand and individual capacity. If not appropriately handled, it may adversely affect individual emotions. Work-related stress is also experienced by academicians in institutions of higher learning due to various aspects. Various measures have been taken by academicians to overcome stress so that it will not adversely affect academic excellence and scholarship. Hence, the aim of this research is to identify the perceptions of academicians regarding their career and to examine the role of the spiritual aspect in managing stress experienced by them. This research is designed as a survey study. 37 out of 108 academicians at the Faculty of Islamic Studies, National University of Malaysia (Universiti Kebangsan Malaysia) have been randomly selected as study sample. Questionnaires are used as instrument of data collection. The data obtained is analysed using the descriptive statistical technique. Research results find that the respondents' perception of their academic career shows they experience stress due to the burden of heavy workload leading to emotional and physical fatigue, and also whenever they receive new assignments. This research also finds that a spiritual approach may play a role in alleviating stress among academicians.

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