ES Trend and Awareness of E-Cigarettes Among Students in a Private College in Sabah Malaysia
Executive Summary
Vitalis Ronald Eden
Vitalis Ronald Eden, Hazrina Hamid Sreemoy Das, Regidor III Dioso
Published: AUIQ Complementary Biological System. Dec 2024;1(2):86-95
Background
The researchers wanted to understand how common e-cigarette use is among college students in Sabah, Malaysia, and how much they know about the risks and effects of vaping.
What did they do?
They surveyed 245 students aged 18 and above at a private college. The students answered questions about whether they’ve used e-cigarettes, how they learned about them, and their opinions on vaping and its health risks.
Key Points:
Awareness:
Most students (89%) had heard of e-cigarettes, but only about 27% actually used them.
Who vapes more?
Male students were more likely to vape compared to female students.
Where do they get info?
The main sources were the internet (40%) and friends (39%), while TV ads played a very small role.
Health perceptions:
More than half the students believed e-cigarettes are just as harmful as regular smoking, and many didn’t see them as a good way to quit smoking.
What’s the takeaway?
Even though vaping isn’t very common in this group, students know about it and are aware of the risks. However, more education and better programs are needed to ensure students get accurate information and avoid vaping’s potential dangers.
