Habits of conventional and electronic cigarette use among Medical students

Abstract

Introduction: Smoking is a public health issue with a growing prevalence among young people, driven by the increasing use of electronic cigarettes. Objective: To investigate smoking habits and knowledge about electronic cigarettes among medical students at the Universidade Regional de Blumenau. Materials and Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional, and descriptive study was conducted with 232 students enrolled in the medical course at the Regional University of Blumenau, approved under the Ethics Presentation Certificate 71107823.1.0000.5370. Data were collected in August 2023 using a structured questionnaire via Google® platform. Descriptive data analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel®. Results and Discussion: Three analytical categories emerged: habits of using conventional and electronic cigarettes; knowledge about conventional versus electronic cigarettes; and discussions about electronic cigarettes in the undergraduate program. The profile of smokers consisted of men in their internship phase, with an average age of 24.8 years, living alone, and going out two to three nights per week. Of these, 3.4% identified as regular smokers of conventional cigarettes, and 23.4% as regular users of electronic cigarettes, with daily consumption of conventional cigarettes being higher than that of electronic ones. Regarding sources of information on the topic, most students cited informal media. Conclusion: Students have partial knowledge of the health risks associated with smoking and consider the knowledge acquired during their studies insufficient for clinical practice, leaving them feeling unprepared for their future professional responsibilities. It is essential that this topic be widely discussed in medical education.