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

Alzalabani, Abdulmohsen A.; Eltaher, Sheref M.

doi:10.1186/s42506-020-00051-0

Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association

Table 1 Comparison between E-cigarette users and non-users regarding demographic characteristics and perception of E-cigarette, Medical College, Taibah University, KSA (n = 527)

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

		E-cigarette users (n = 114)		E-cigarette non-users (n = 413)		Total		χ2	OR (95% CI)	p value
		No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	χ2	OR (95% CI)	p value
Age (years)	18	37	32.46	186	45.04	223	42.3	5.8	1.7 (1.1–2.6)	0.02*
Age (years)	21–25	77	67.54	227	54.96	304	57.7	5.8	1.7 (1.1–2.6)	0.02*
Sex	Female	11	9.7	201	48.7	212	40.2	56.7	8.9 (4.6–17.02)	< 0.001*
Sex	Male	103	90.3	212	51.3	315	59.8	56.7	8.9 (4.6–17.02)	< 0.001*
College class	Pre-clinical years	42	36.8	213	51.6	255	48.4	7.8	1.9 (1.2–2.8)	0.005
College class	Clinical years	72	63.2	200	48.4	272	51.6	7.8	1.9 (1.2–2.8)	0.005
≥ 1 close friend smokes	Yes	93	81.6	140	33.9	233	44.2	82.3	8.6 (5.2–14.5)	< 0.001*
≥ 1 close friend smokes	No	21	18.4	273	66.1	294	55.8	82.3	8.6 (5.2–14.5)	< 0.001*
Family history of smoking	Yes	98	85.9	294	71.2	392	74.4	10.2	2.5 (1.4–4.4)	0.001
Family history of smoking	No	16	14.1	119	28.8	135	25.6	10.2	2.5 (1.4–4.4)	0.001
Housemates who smoked E-cigarettes	Yes	89	78.1	283	68.5	372	70.6	3.9	1.6 (1.002–2.67)	0.047
Housemates who smoked E-cigarettes	No	25	21.9	130	31.5	155	29.4	3.9	1.6 (1.002–2.67)	0.047
Perception about E-cigarette
E-cigarettes can help people quit	Strongly agree or agree	50	43.9	161	38.9	211	40	2.01	0.7 (0.4–1.1)	0.2
	Undecided	37	32.5	83	20.1	120	22.8	2.01	0.7 (0.4–1.1)	0.2
	Undecided	37	32.5	83	20.1	120	22.8	13.04	0.4 (0.2–0.6)	< 0.001*
	Disagree or strongly disagree	27	23.6	169	41.1	196	37.2	13.04	0.4 (0.2–0.6)	< 0.001*
E-cigarettes are less harmful than cigarettes	Strongly agree or agree	65	57	96	23.2	161	30.6	12.9	2.4 (1.4–3.9)	< 0.001*
	Undecided	36	31.6	128	30.9	164	31.1	12.9	2.4 (1.4–3.9)	< 0.001*
	Undecided	36	31.6	128	30.9	164	31.1	18.8	0.2 (0.1–0.5)	< 0.001*
	Disagree or strongly disagree	13	11.4	189	45.9	202	38.3	18.8	0.2 (0.1–0.5)	< 0.001*
E-cigarettes are less addictive than cigarettes	Strongly agree or agree	60	52.6	182	44.1	242	45.9	0.06	1.06 (0.6–1.7)	0.8
	Undecided	32	28.1	103	24.9	135	25.6	0.06	1.06 (0.6–1.7)	0.8
	Undecided	32	28.1	103	24.9	135	25.6	3.8	0.6 (0.3–1.01)	0.052
	Disagree or strongly disagree	22	19.3	128	31	150	28.5	3.8	0.6 (0.3–1.01)	0.052

* significant at p <0.05
** significant at p < 0.001

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