Pharmacy Students’ Perceptions of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems as Compared to Those of Other Health Care Students

Abstract

Objective. To determine how pharmacy students' perceptions of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) differ from those of other health care students. Methods. A 33-item questionnaire was sent to health professional students at a Midwestern university to assess their tobacco use, insights regarding ENDS, cessation education, and perceptions. Health professions included were pharmacy, nursing, public health, optometry, dental hygiene, and others. Results. The overall response rate to the questionnaire was 41% (1152/2799). The study population reported high ENDS use. Almost half (47%) of the respondents had ever used ENDS and 14% were current users (6% pharmacy students vs 19% other health care students). A lower percentage of pharmacy students than other health care students agreed that using ENDS is healthier than using tobacco (18% vs 26%). Overall, pharmacy students more strongly agreed that they had received enough education to counsel patients regarding tobacco cessation (rated 4.7 by pharmacy students vs 3.6 by other health care students on a seven-point Likert scale) and ENDS cessation (rated 3.3 by pharmacy students vs 2.9 by other health care students). Finally, pharmacy students were less likely than other health care students to recommend the use of ENDS to aid patients in quitting traditional cigarette use (2.9 vs 3.2, respectively). Conclusion. The rapid rise in use of ENDS and the continued use of cigarettes in the United States makes it imperative for health care professionals to be knowledgeable about these products and prepared to counsel patients regarding them. We found that pharmacy students tended to have more negative perceptions about ENDS and a lower percentage of pharmacy students than other health care students agreed that ENDS should be used as a cessation tool for quitting traditional cigarettes.