PERCEPTION OF ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE USE AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN THE HEALTH FIELD: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Introduction: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are portable devices that generate an aerosol that may contain nicotine by heating a solution or e-liquid. They have been increasingly used, especially among the young population, despite being prohibited by the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA). Objective: To assess the level of perception and knowledge about the content and safety profile of electronic cigarettes among students from the Health Area courses at Universidade Iguaçu – Campus I. Materials and methods: Analytical study with a standardized questionnaire. The study was conducted online through a form on the Google Forms platform. The population consisted of students from the Health Area courses at Universidade Iguaçu – Campus I (Nursing, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Nutrition, Dentistry, and Medicine). RESULTS: The epidemiological profile found was 73.6% female individuals with an average age of 23 ± 8.2 years, and it can be inferred that 10% of this population uses electronic cigarettes. Regarding the students' understanding of substances that may be present in the liquid contained in e-cigarettes, 54.5% were unable to answer, 34.2% identified nicotine, and 26 individuals mentioned nicotine, essence, tetrahydrocannabinol, and propylene glycol. The sample consisted of 235 students. Conclusion: The epidemiological profile shows a young population, physically active, with a healthy diet, and 8.2% with alcohol use. They do not know the substances contained in VAPE, but most believe that it causes chemical dependence and increases the cardiovascular risk. A larger sample size will be necessary for better comprehension of the results.