ELECTRONIC SMOKING DEVICES: PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS FOR INITIATION AMONG HEALTH SCIENCES STUDENTS AT A PRIVATE UNIVERSITY IN THE STATE OF PARANÁ, BRAZIL

Abstract

Electronic smoking devices (ESDs) have shown increasing popularity among young people despite evidence of health risks. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of ESD use and factors associated with initiation among health sciences students at a private university in Paraná, Brazil. This is a cross-sectional observational study using non-probability convenience sampling was conducted between October 2025 and January 2026 with 162 students from eight health-related programs. Data were collected through an online questionnaire and analyzed using Jamovi (2.7) and R (4.5), applying descriptive statistics and Fisher’s exact test (p<0.05). The prevalence of lifetime experimentation was 65.43%, and current use was 31.48%. Most participants initiated use before the age of 18 (36.42%). Peer influence (46.91%), curiosity (34.57%), alcohol consumption associated with ESD use (38.27%), and early first contact (36.42%) were relevant factors. Respiratory symptoms such as dyspnea (24.69%) and wheezing (12.96%) were reported. Although 95.06% recognized health risks, only 42.59% had received formal academic guidance on the subject. A high prevalence of ESD use was observed in the studied population, associated with social and behavioral risk factors, as well as an educational gap. The findings reinforce the need for educational and preventive strategies in the university context.