Factors associated with e-cigarette use among vocational students: A cross-sectional multistage cluster survey, Thailand

INTRODUCTION: The use of e-cigarettes has steadily increased, and vocational students are one primary target of e-cigarette marketing. This cross-sectional survey research aimed to explore e-cigarette use and examine the factors associated with it. METHODS: Multistage cluster random sampling was employed to select 1536 students in vocational education institutions. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data from September to December 2019. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to obtain the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) to determine the associated factors of e-cigarette use. RESULTS: Altogether, 28.7% of the subjects were currently e-cigarette users, 7.4% used e-cigarettes only, and 21.3% were dual users. Various factors were found to be significantly associated with e-cigarette use by 43.7%. Those consisted of sex (male) (AOR=2.183; 95% CI: 1.510–3.157), grade point average (GPA) of <2.5 (AOR=2.363; 95% CI: 1.502–3.717), having neutral attitudes toward e-cigarette use (AOR=2.676; 95% CI: 1.499–4.779) and positive attitudes toward e-cigarette use (AOR=4.171; 95% CI: 2.250–7.734), moderate level of perceived behavioral control on e-cigarette use (AOR=3.520; 95% CI: 2.287–5.418) and low level of perceived behavioral control on e-cigarettes use (AOR=4.959; 95% CI: 3.274–7.511), moderate price of e-cigarettes (AOR=1.436; 95% CI: 1.009–2.044), and e-cigarette use of their parents (AOR=1.827; 95% CI: 1.137–2.938), close friends (AOR=4.327; 95% CI: 2.954–6.338) and idols (AOR=4.604; 95% CI: 1.844–11.497). CONCLUSIONS: Students should be encouraged to develop negative attitudes toward e-cigarette use and increase their self-confidence to control the use of e-cigarettes. This can be achieved by regularly distributing information on the product’s risks. Moreover, students can find inspiration and guidance from peers, close friends, or their idols, who will act as positive role models and inspire them not to initiate e-cigarette use.