E-Cigarette : New form of smoking in Tunisia

Abstract

<b>The electronic cigarette (E-Cigarette) is newly introduced in Tunisia.</b> <b>Aim:</b> Assess the practices and knowledge of Tunisian vapers regarding the E-cigarette. <b>Methods:</b> Descriptive study based on a questionnaire posted on social networks in Tunisia since August 2022 until February 2023. The data analysis is restricted to people using or having used the E-Cigarette. <b>Results :</b> We had <i>111</i> participants who were current or former E-cigarette users, <i>102</i> of them (<i>91.8%</i>) were young people. Mean age was <i>28.7</i> years [<i>15-40</i>]. Eighty four participants (<i>75.7%</i>) were a smoker or former smoker of classic cigarettes. Forty participants (<i>36 %</i>) consider E-cigarette a way to quit classic cigarettes. The average period of smoking E-cigarette were <i>1.7</i> years [1; 3]. On average, participants used E-cigarettes 10 times per day <i>10 [7-25]</i> and about Eighty participants (<i>72.1%</i>) find it attractive. Eighty eight participants (<i>79.3%</i>) know its addictive effect, as well as Eighty four (<i>75.7%</i>) confirm the presence of harmful chemicals in E-cigarette. But, Seventy three participants (<i>65.8%</i>) deny or do not know the role of the E-cigarette in the genesis of lung cancer and <i>48.6%</i> of participants deny the presence of risk of serious respiratory side effects. Sixty three participants (<i>56.8%</i>) ignore the effect of the E-cigarette on the Cardiovascular system. <b>Conclusion:</b><b>The majority of Tunisian users of E-cigarette are young. Its adverse respiratory, circulatory and carcinogenic effects are ignored by most users.</b>