Social Acceptability and Health Concerns of Smoking and Vaping Among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective This study aimed to assess tobacco and vaping habits among university students, exploring awareness of university policies, attitudes, and behaviors related to smoking and vaping. Methods An online questionnaire was distributed among students from various universities, including institutio...

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Main Authors: Afsheen Maqsood, Wan Nazatul Shima Shahidan, Daud Mirza, Naseer Ahmed, Artak Heboyan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2024-11-01
Series:Tobacco Use Insights
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/1179173X241300992
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author Afsheen Maqsood
Wan Nazatul Shima Shahidan
Daud Mirza
Naseer Ahmed
Artak Heboyan
author_facet Afsheen Maqsood
Wan Nazatul Shima Shahidan
Daud Mirza
Naseer Ahmed
Artak Heboyan
author_sort Afsheen Maqsood
collection DOAJ
description Objective This study aimed to assess tobacco and vaping habits among university students, exploring awareness of university policies, attitudes, and behaviors related to smoking and vaping. Methods An online questionnaire was distributed among students from various universities, including institutions in Pakistan, covering demographics, smoking and vaping behaviors, awareness of policies, and beliefs. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, Binomial tests, Chi-square tests, and logistic regression. Results Out of the total 683 respondents, 65.02% were female, and 34.98% were male. Most participants were undergraduate students (71.31%), with Dentistry being the most represented field (50.36%). Most students perceived smoking or vaping as socially acceptable (58.3%) and were aware of university policies (59.3%). However, 46.6% were aware of cessation programs. Most of the students expressed concern about long-term vaping health risks (74.5%). Logistic regression identified gender (Male) and field of study (Dentistry) as significant predictors of policy awareness. Conclusion University students exhibit varied perceptions and behaviors related to smoking and vaping. The study highlights the importance of implementing effective policies and interventions to address tobacco and vaping use among them.
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issn 1179-173X
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series Tobacco Use Insights
spelling doaj-art-3b6dd457e0a84438bb6b075ebb014d2c2025-08-20T02:14:11ZengSAGE PublishingTobacco Use Insights1179-173X2024-11-011710.1177/1179173X241300992Social Acceptability and Health Concerns of Smoking and Vaping Among University Students: A Cross-Sectional StudyAfsheen MaqsoodWan Nazatul Shima ShahidanDaud MirzaNaseer AhmedArtak HeboyanObjective This study aimed to assess tobacco and vaping habits among university students, exploring awareness of university policies, attitudes, and behaviors related to smoking and vaping. Methods An online questionnaire was distributed among students from various universities, including institutions in Pakistan, covering demographics, smoking and vaping behaviors, awareness of policies, and beliefs. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, Binomial tests, Chi-square tests, and logistic regression. Results Out of the total 683 respondents, 65.02% were female, and 34.98% were male. Most participants were undergraduate students (71.31%), with Dentistry being the most represented field (50.36%). Most students perceived smoking or vaping as socially acceptable (58.3%) and were aware of university policies (59.3%). However, 46.6% were aware of cessation programs. Most of the students expressed concern about long-term vaping health risks (74.5%). Logistic regression identified gender (Male) and field of study (Dentistry) as significant predictors of policy awareness. Conclusion University students exhibit varied perceptions and behaviors related to smoking and vaping. The study highlights the importance of implementing effective policies and interventions to address tobacco and vaping use among them.https://doi.org/10.1177/1179173X241300992
spellingShingle Afsheen Maqsood
Wan Nazatul Shima Shahidan
Daud Mirza
Naseer Ahmed
Artak Heboyan
Social Acceptability and Health Concerns of Smoking and Vaping Among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study
Tobacco Use Insights
title Social Acceptability and Health Concerns of Smoking and Vaping Among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_full Social Acceptability and Health Concerns of Smoking and Vaping Among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_fullStr Social Acceptability and Health Concerns of Smoking and Vaping Among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_full_unstemmed Social Acceptability and Health Concerns of Smoking and Vaping Among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_short Social Acceptability and Health Concerns of Smoking and Vaping Among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_sort social acceptability and health concerns of smoking and vaping among university students a cross sectional study
url https://doi.org/10.1177/1179173X241300992
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