Electronic Cigarette Prevalence and Knowledge Among Medical Students in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain: A Cross-National Study

Background Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes and vapour devices) are the most commonly used form of alternative tobacco products (ATPs). The use of these vapour devices has been dramatically increasing worldwide, especially among current and former traditional cigarette smokers. A strong influence that will affect patients’ health attitudes and play a crucial role in tobacco control and smoking cessation are medical students, as they are future physicians. Therefore, in our study, we aimed to determine the prevalence rate of e-cigarettes and the level of knowledge among medical students in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of medical students in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain using an online survey. This was distributed through social media platforms such as Twitter, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Facebook. Medical students of all years were included. The questionnaire was adapted from two previous studies. Results The study enrolled 1730 medical students. The majority of the participants did not recommend the use of e-cigarettes as a method for smoking cessation or believed that these types of ATPs lower the risk of cancer in comparison with traditional cigarettes. The data showed a strong association between gender and e-cigarette smoking, with the majority of current smokers being men (n = 184) and experimental smokers being women (n = 800). Moreover, an educational gap was discovered, as few of the students had received an education in their medical school’s curriculum on the use of e-cigarettes. There was a significant association between receiving an education at a medical school and having adequate knowledge of e-cigarettes. Conclusion The increasing number of e-cigarette users among medical students is concerning. Our study showed that students are not receiving a decent education on the use of ATPs during medical school, which urges further adjustment of the curriculum. This will play a huge role in their behaviour and the provision of future treatment plans to patients as physicians.