Understanding of electronic nicotine delivery systems in resident physicians in a reference center of pulmonary diseases

Abstract

Introduction: Smoking remains a public health problem. It is considered the leading cause of preventable death in the world. In our country, despite anti-tobacco policies, the lack of regulation of trade in ENDS (Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems) and its use in the population of young schoolchildren due to lack of information about short-term health risks remains a problem and medium term and that, increase the risk of continuing to smoke in smokers who use it as a smoking cessation therapy and of falling into conventional tobacco use in non-smokers. Objective: To describe the knowledge of the resident physicians of pulmonology about the END. Material and methods: Prospective cross-sectional observational study on the knowledge of END in pulmonary residents, a survey with 15 multiple-choice items was applied. The results were evaluated and expressed using measures of central tendency. Results: It was found that 60% of the doctors had knowledge of END, only 66.67% had knowledge about the functioning. 90% do not recommend it due to lack of effectiveness and 90% said they ignore legal issues. 50% do not know information about security, 86.67% do not know about cost information. 90% considered needing more information about the END. Conclusions: The clear need to improve the knowledge of END in medical pulmonologists in training is demonstrated.