Perceptions, Knowledge, and Use of Electronic Cigarettes: A Survey of Mental Health Patients

Introduction:
This article discusses a survey conducted on mental health patients' perceptions, knowledge, and use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), also known as e-cigarettes. The survey aimed to gather information about mental health patients' experiences with ENDS and their attitudes towards their healthcare providers' opinions on ENDS use. The key points and main message of the article are summarized below.

Key Points:

* The survey was conducted on patients at an outpatient adult mental health office.
* The survey included questions about tobacco use, ENDS use, perceptions, knowledge, and use of ENDS, and whether patients had asked healthcare providers about ENDS use.
* The majority of participants were aware of ENDS, and most had tried them.
* Participants believed that ENDS could help people quit tobacco and were less harmful than cigarettes.
* Most participants learned about ENDS from family or friends, and only a small percentage had asked their healthcare providers about ENDS use.
* The majority of participants who used ENDS reported that they used them to quit or reduce tobacco use.
* Participants who used ENDS to quit tobacco were more likely to succeed than those who used other methods.
* Participants who used ENDS were more likely to use lower levels of nicotine.

Main Message:
The study highlights the need for healthcare providers to be knowledgeable about ENDS and their potential benefits for mental health patients who use tobacco. Providers should ask their patients about their use of ENDS and provide guidance on their use as a harm reduction strategy for tobacco cessation. The study also underscores the importance of accurate information about ENDS, as many participants believed that ENDS were less harmful than cigarettes and could help people quit tobacco. However, more research is needed to fully understand the long-term health effects of ENDS use. Overall, the study emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to tobacco cessation that includes patient education, provider guidance, and access to evidence-based treatments.

Baltz, Gerald M., and Helen W. Lach. “Perceptions, Knowledge, and Use of Electronic Cigarettes: A Survey of Mental Health Patients.” Issues in Mental Health Nursing 40, no. 10 (October 3, 2019): 887–94. https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2019.1579281.