Electronic cigarettes use and perception amongst medical students: a cross sectional survey from Sindh, Pakistan

Introduction:
This text is a summary of a research study examining the use and perception of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) among medical students in Pakistan. The study aims to determine the knowledge, use, and perception of e-cigarettes among these students.

Key Points:

* The study was conducted among 500 medical students in five different medical colleges in Sindh, Pakistan.
* The results showed that 65.6% of the students were aware of e-cigarettes, and 6.2% reported having used e-cigarettes.
* Users of conventional tobacco products were more likely to have heard of e-cigarettes and have used them.
* A strong association was found between e-cigarette use and consumption of conventional cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products.
* The majority of non-users perceived e-cigarettes as harmful to pregnant women, associated with addiction and dependency, and associated with respiratory diseases.
* Users of e-cigarettes were more likely to use other tobacco products concomitantly, such as conventional cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and shisha.
* The study suggests that there should be laws against the promotion of e-cigarettes and that marketing should be prohibited before there is definitive evidence demonstrating its benefits.

Main Message:
The study highlights the need for increased awareness and education about the potential risks associated with e-cigarette use among medical students in Pakistan. The strong association between e-cigarette use and consumption of conventional cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products suggests that e-cigarettes may serve as a gateway to nicotine addiction in these groups. Therefore, it is crucial to regulate the marketing and promotion of e-cigarettes and to conduct further studies to establish their safety and efficacy as smoking cessation aids. Overall, the study emphasizes the importance of addressing the rise in e-cigarette use in developing countries, where the use of conventional tobacco products is still a significant public health issue.

Iqbal, Nousheen, Zain A. Khan, Syed Muhammad Hamza Anwar, Omar Irfan, Babar Irfan, Ammar Mushtaq, Maria Bibi, Faraz Siddiqui, and Javaid A. Khan. “Electronic Cigarettes Use and Perception amongst Medical Students: A Cross Sectional Survey from Sindh, Pakistan.” BMC Research Notes 11, no. 1 (December 2018): 188. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-018-3303-z.