The use of elctronic cigarettes among medical student in Casablanca

Abstract

Abstract Introduction The electronic cigarette is an electronic device containing or not nicotine that produces vapours that are inhaled by users, thus mimicking the use of conventional cigarettes. These devices nevertheless contain components that are harmful to health. They have become particularly popular in recent years, especially among young people. Objective To estimate the frequency of e-cigarette use among medical students and to describe perceptions and practices of e-cigarette use. Methods This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted from August 2020 to March 2021 among medical students at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy in Casablanca. The data were collected through a selfadministered, pre-tested, online questionnaire. The sample size was calculated a priori and statistical analyses were carried out using RStudio software. Results A total of 491 students were collected with a mean age of 21.03+/- 2.35 years, 66% were female, 51.9% were undergraduates and 20.6% were first year students. The frequency of e-cigarette use was 20.2%, and smoking was 20.8%. Of the 99 e-cigarette users, 75.75% had used e-cigarettes in the past 12 months. More than 21.9% of e-cigarette users used it daily, the most frequent reasons for use were curiosity (88.6%) and imitation (58.4%). Regarding perceptions, 22.1% felt more or less informed about the risks of e-cigarettes, 54.8% agreed that e-cigarettes are an effective way to quit smoking and 29.5% thought they would be more effective than nicotine replacement therapies. Conclusions The frequency of e-cigarette use is high among future doctors despite their knowledge of the health effects of its use. Preventive measures should be implemented to improve the health of students. Key messages Medical student are a subgroup particulary vulnarable to e-cigarette use. The perceptions of medical students, future health care providers, are heterogeneous.