Níveis de dependência ao cigarro eletrônico na população do Rio Grande do Norte: um estudo observacional

Abstract

Introduction: The use of electronic cigarettes has been growing in Brazil and around the world. These electronic devices were developed for the purpose of smoking cessation, however, to date, no electronic cigarette has been approved as a medication to stop smoking. Objective: To assess the level of dependence on electronic cigarettes (ecig), in addition to its associated factors. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, quantitative, non-probabilistic, snowball sampling study, carried out among the population of Rio Grande do Norte. Individuals of both sexes, over 18 years of age, users of electronic cigarettes, and residents of Rio Grande do Norte participated in the study, with those subjects who did not answer the questions completely being excluded. Sociodemographic, anthropometric and lifestyle data were evaluated. To assess ecig dependence, the Fagerstrom questionnaire, a version adapted for electronic cigarettes, was applied. The Kolmogorov Smirnov and Chi Square tests were applied. Results: The sample consisted of 69 volunteers, 68.1% male, 65.2% aged 18 to 24 years. The degree of dependence on ecig in this sample was 49% with low and very low dependence and 51% with medium, high and very high dependence. Final Considerations: This study demonstrated that in the population of Rio Grande do Norte, the use of ecig was greater among young men, mostly students, presenting a high degree of dependence in more than 50% of the sample, resulting in the need for strategies preventive and educational measures to combat electronic smoking and their respective impacts.