Abstract
The popularity of e-cigarette is growing worldwide. Its health hazards and role in smoking ces-sation is controversial. There is no doubt that health care professionals can play a vital role in assisting patients who wish to use e-cigarettes to quit smoking but there is a gap in the evidence. The present study aimed to reveal the perception of e-cigarettes as a quit smoking tool and its health hazards among physicians in Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study was conducted by means of a survey via self-administered structured questionnaires in Bangladesh. Data was col-lected from September 2019 to February 2020 and analysed by descriptive frequency and chi-square test using SPSS. A total of 145 physicians have participated in this study, 88.9% pro-vided professional advice on quit smoking to their patients. Total 51.7%, 51.9%, 41.3%, 52.4%, 42.8%, and 47.6% physicians mentioned that e-cigarettes may cause throat irritations, cough, headache, dryness of mouth, cardiovascular disease, and cancer respectively. Chi-square test re-vealed that there is no association between a physician’s professional advice for quit smoking and perception of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool. The physician’s perception of e-cigarettes is crucial for reducing any type of tobacco consumption. Evidence based e-cigarette related public health intervention for physicians are required to mitigate the use of e-cigarette to quit smoking.
Highlights
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) generate an aerosolized mixture containing flavoured liquids and nicotine to inhale [1]
This study addressed the gap regarding the physician’s perception of ecigarettes as a smoking cessation tool and its health hazards in Bangladesh
Total of 145 physicians from Bangladesh was involved in this study, 68.2% (99 out of 145) were male doctor
Summary
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) generate an aerosolized mixture containing flavoured liquids and nicotine to inhale [1]. Many people around the globe trying to quit smoking using e-cigarettes more frequently than approved cessation aids [2]. Studies found a link between e-cigarettes with cardiovascular [5] and lung [6] disease. Evidence suggests smokers use e-cigarettes as a quit smoking tool [7,8]. Physicians can support patients to quit smoking by providing accurate and unbiased information of e-cigarettes to make informed choices about their health and lifestyle. As evidence is mixed about the ability of e-cigarettes to help smokers achieve long-term abstinence [11,12], behavioural counselling, pharmacological intervention and appropriate referral resource aids are essential for a quit attempt to be successful [8]
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