Uso de cigarro eletrônico e fatores associados entre universitários da área da saúde de uma universidade de goiás: um estudo transversal

Abstract

This doctoral thesis in Public Health, developed within the Graduate Program in Public Health at the University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos – UNISINOS – aimed to assess the prevalence of electronic cigarette (EC) use among university students from an institution in the state of Goiás, Brazil, and to investigate associated factors, including the relationship with the use of psychoactive substances. This was a cross-sectional, university-based study conducted using a self-administered questionnaire between October 2022 and May 2023. The results revealed a high prevalence of EC use in the past 30 days (69.1%), with a higher frequency among males and students aged 22 to 24 years. Factors such as alcohol consumption, illicit drug use (including marijuana), psychotropic medication use, and conventional cigarette smoking were strongly associated with EC use, both lifetime and recent use. Students enrolled in clinical cycle courses also showed a higher prevalence of EC experimentation. Adjusted analyses indicated significant prevalence ratios and odds ratios for these associations, reinforcing the multifactorial nature of this behavior. In conclusion, EC use among university students is part of a broader pattern of polysubstance use, highlighting the need for more effective prevention and control measures by health authorities and higher education institutions.