Knowledge and use of e-cigarettes among nursing students: results from a cross-sectional survey in north-eastern Italy

Abstract

Background Data on electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use among health professional students, who can play a central role in promoting healthy habits and smoking cessation, are sparse. Moreover, the association between e-cigarettes and smoking habits is still debated. The present study aimed to investigate the diffusion of e-cigarette use among nursing students in north-eastern Italy and explore its association with tobacco smoking. Methods In 2015, a questionnaire focused on e-cigarette use and tobacco smoking habits was anonymously administered to 2020 students attending nursing courses held by Verona University in 5 different centres. Of these students, 1463 (72.4%) answered the questionnaire. The influence of e-cigarette ever use on both tobacco smoking initiation in all subjects and smoking cessation among ever smokers was investigated by multivariable logistic models. Results Most responders were female (77.1%), and the mean (SD) age was 23.2 (4.2) years. Nearly all students (94.7%) had heard about e-cigarettes. Approximately one-third (30.3, 95% CI 27.9–32.7%) had ever used e-cigarettes, but only 2.1% (1.5–3.0%) had used e-cigarettes in the last month. Very few (2.1%) of those responders who had never used e-cigarettes were willing to try them. Prevalence values were much higher for tobacco smoking: 40.9% of responders reported being current tobacco smokers, and 10.1% reported being past smokers. Ever use and current use of e-cigarettes were reported by 57.2 and 4.4% of current tobacco smokers and by 12.0 and 0.6% of never or past smokers, respectively ( p < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, students who ever used e-cigarettes had 13 times greater odds of being an ever tobacco smoker than never users, whereas they had three times lower odds of being a former smoker. Only 26 students were currently using both electronic and tobacco cigarettes, and most declared that they used e-cigarettes to stop or reduce tobacco smoking. Of note, only three students reported that they had completely stopped smoking thanks to e-cigarette use. Conclusion Use of e-cigarettes seemed to be rather rare among Italian nursing students and was mainly restricted to current smokers. E-cigarette use was not associated with smoking cessation in nursing students. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12889-019-7250-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Smoking Cessation and Vaping Cessation Attempts among Cigarette Smokers and E-Cigarette Users in Central and Eastern Europe

“…In a study by Etter JF [23], 10% of long-term vapers had already tried to quit vaping, and 34% declared an intention to quit vaping in the future. In a study by Canzan et al e-cigarette use was not associated with smoking cessation in nursing students in Italy [37]. Similar results were observed in our study among university students.…”

Perceptions and reasons of E-cigarette use among medical students: an internet-based survey

“…E-cigarette use among participants in our study was more prevalent in older age group, male students, higher college class, students who have ≥ 1 close friend who smokes, family history of smoking, and housemates who smoked E-cigarettes. This is partially in accordance with Canzan et al who stated that E-cigarette use was associated with housemates' smoking habits, male sex but not with a family history of smoking and university class [17]; but it is not in agreement with Jiang et al who found that there was non-significant difference between males and females regarding E-cigarette use [18]. It is in agreement with Almutham et al who stated that E-cigarette smoking had a significant correlation with having a family member or a close friend who smokes E-cigarettes [19].…”

“…This is in accordance with a study done by Romijnders et al in which social environment, for example a friend, a father, or a mother who uses E-cigarette, was an initiator for E-cigarette use [ 21 ]. Another study stated that E-cigarette use is affected by sex but not affected by age [ 17 ]. This supports the concept that any family member or friend (social environment) who uses E-cigarette is an initiative for starting its use.…”

Awareness and use of e-cigarettes among university students in Shanghai, China

“…Furthermore, a meta-analysis of 38 studies implied the odds of quitting traditional cigarettes were 28.0% lower in those who used e-cigarettes than in those who did not 27 . Another study indicated that e-cigarette ever use was associated with a higher risk of starting smoking and with a lower risk of quitting smoking among nursing students 28 . Loukas et al 29 conducted a study among university students and reported that cigarette users who also used e-cigarettes were no more likely than cigaretteonly users to attempt to quit smoking cigarettes.…”