Percepción y prevalencia del consumo de cigarrillos electrónicos en estudiantes de Medicina

Abstract

Introduction: Several studies warn of the short-term relationship between the use of electronic cigarettes and lung and cardiovascular diseases, in addition to their addictive potential. There are no studies in this regard in Chilean university students. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study measures the prevalence of consumption, risk perception, motivations and attitudes of e-cigarette use in medical students, using an online questionnaire. Results: We analyzed 354 subjects, 32.9% have used electronic cigarettes once in their lives, 6.8% in the last year and 1.1% in the last month. The mean age of onset was 18.0 ± 2.2 years. Regarding positive perceptions towards e-cigarettes: 37.1% believe they help people quit smoking; 39.7% that they are less dangerous than cigarettes and 19.0% that they are less addictive. E-cigarette use was once in a lifetime associated with tobacco use and positive perceptions toward e-cigarettes (effective for quitting smoking and less addictive than cigarettes). The main motivations for consumption were "simply because I do", "because I like the taste", "it was recommended to me by a friend/family member" and "because it relaxes me". Conclusion: It is suggested to ban the promotion of e-cigarettes as a less harmful and addictive option than cigarettes, nor as an alternative to quitting smoking, since scientific evidence is not sufficient to support such claims. This study may contribute to the prevention of e-cigarette use in young populations.