Health care professional and cigarette cessation volunteers knowledge, attitude and practice on e-cigarettes

Abstract

Background: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarette) are new phenomenon that has been widely accepted. E- Cigarettes are more popular that has become one of the preferable rout of smoking cessation in patients. Further researches are required for future advice on e-cigarette use.To determine Health Care Professional and Cigarette Cessation Volunteers Knowledge, Attitude and Practice on e-Cigarettes Methods: In a cross-sectional description study, 147 medical professional and patients were enrolled in the study. After enrollment, a questionnaire with 23 questions designed for assessment of attendees' knowledge, attitude and practice. Seven questions were designed for knowledge, 7 for attitude and 7 for practice, and 2 for general assessment of e-cigarette acceptability as a method for quit smoking. Result(s): Total numbers of 147 medical professional and patients with mean age of 41.05+/-6.28 were enrolled in the study. Attitude of attendees about comparison of e-cigarette and standard cigarette harm to the health showed that 52.4% of patients believe that e-cigarette is less harmful compare to standard cigarette. About 49% of attendees believed that e-cigarettes need more research as a help to quit smoke and only 27.2% of patients answered yes to the question. Besides, 57.8 % of attendees answered "yes" to the question on "does e-cigarette induce addiction?" , and 12.9% answered "No". Conclusion(s): although e-cigarette does not produce tobacco smoke, they still contain nicotine and other potentially harmful chemicals and people believe they may induce addiction.