The epidemiology of electronic cigarette smoking among university students in the West Bank: Practice, motivation, and dependence of a new emerging hazard

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Tobacco smoking has reached an alarming rate among the young Palestinian population, specifically university students. Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes, are an emerging hazard in the West Bank. However, the epidemiology of e-cigarette smoking among Palestinians is poorly described. Therefore, we aimed to determine the prevalence, pattern, motivation, dependence, and readiness to quit e-cigarette smoking among male university students. METHODS In 2022, face-to-face interviews were conducted in a cross-sectional study that included male students from the largest public universities north of the West Bank. The Fagerström test was used to determine dependence on e-cigarette smoking. In addition, a Ladder contemplation scale was used to assess the readiness to quit smoking. Finally, adjusted binary logistic regression was used to assess the association between e-cigarettes and other tobacco forms. RESULTS A total of 548 students agreed to participate, and 20 were excluded. Most e-cigarette smokers (71.4%) had

Non-traditional tobacco smoking: An emerging risk in the West Bank among male Palestinians

“…Other studies revealed that waterpipe smoking was more common among males, younger age groups, those with a lower education level 12,13 and as an alternative to cigarettes smoking 15 . A recent study in 2023 described the epidemiology of e-cigarette smoking among Palestinians and indicated that e-cigarette smoking is prevalent among university students (13.3%) 16 , while the PCBS indicated that 4% of individuals aged ≥18 years in the West Bank were e-cigarette smokers 11 . Another study reported a high prevalence of tobacco smoking among Palestinian refugee men and linked their use with eating behaviors and obesity 17 .…”