Awareness Of Vaping Health Risks Among High School Students In Medina, Saudi Arabia – A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: In recent years, electronic cigarettes have become increasingly widespread among teenagers. These battery-operated devices, commonly referred to as e-cigarettes or vapes, deliver nicotine and/or other chemicals to users in the form of an aerosol.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the awareness of vaping health risks among high school students in Medina, Saudi Arabia.

Method and design: The study is a descriptive, cross-sectional survey conducted in the Medina region of Saudi Arabia. An online questionnaire was distributed through social media from 19 February to 11 April 2024, targeting high school students. The survey was developed using Microsoft Forms and performed using an Arabic-language online structured questionnaire. The questionnaire included demographic data and inquiries about vaping knowledge, beliefs, and usage. Data were analysed using SPSS software. Descriptive statistics and relations between demographic factors and vaping awareness were assessed using cross tabulation and Chi-square/Fisher's Exact with significance set at P≤0.05.

Results: Of the 326 participants aged 15 to 19 years, 83.1% (271 participants) knew/heard about e-cigarettes, with social media being the primary source of information for 64.9% of them. Among those who knew about e-cigarettes, only about 14.4% had tried them. Additionally, most participants who had tried e-cigarettes reported experiencing adverse symptoms, including dizziness and changes in appetite.

Conclusion: This study was one of the first to evaluate high school students' awareness of e-cigarettes and vaping in Saudi Arabia. Most participants were aware of the health risks, primarily obtaining information from social media. About a quarter of those who knew about e-cigarettes had tried them, often experiencing negative symptoms like dizziness and appetite changes. The study emphasizes the need for health promotion programs to educate students about the dangers of e-cigarettes and advocates for comprehensive health education campaigns and stricter regulations to reduce future e-cigarette and tobacco use.