Psonka Y, Vannimenus C. [Perception of ENDS among French high school students in Nord and Pas-de-Calais].
Rev Mal Respir 2023;
40:743-750. [PMID:
37633810 DOI:
10.1016/j.rmr.2023.08.001]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) have been gaining popularity for over a decade, particularly among young people. The aim was to understand how these devices were perceived, in general and according to different characteristics: gender, smoking status, experimentation or possession of SEDEN.
METHODS
A cross-sectional observational study was conducted by an online questionnaire to 15 high schools between 14 May and 23 October 2021. Perception was assessed by a constructed score.
RESULTS
In total, 772 responses from 10 high schools were analysed; 44.7% had already experimented with ENDS. The main reason for use was pleasure (33.8%). Only 15% of smokers or former smokers reported using ENDS to stop smoking as their main reason. The majority of ENDS (72.8%) are perceived as harmful. This negative perception is more important among women, non-smokers, non-experimenters and non-owners of ENDS. More than 50% of the respondents consider ENDS as distinct from tobacco.
CONCLUSIONS
ENDS are perceived as potentially harmful and their use is often motivated by pleasure. Their perception as a practice distinct from smoking, combined with unknown long-term consequences, justifies increased vigilance in the face of the emergence of these new uses.
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