Health Literacy about E-cigarette and Prevention Behaviors of E-cigarette of University Student in Bangkok

Abstract

This study aimed to 1) study the level of health literacy about e-cigarette and prevention of e-cigarette 2) compare the levels of health literacy about e-cigarette and prevention of e-cigarette classified by academic year levels and 3) study the relationship between health literacy about e-cigarette and prevention of e-cigarette. The sample consisted of 466 undergraduate students from the first to the fourth year enrolled in the Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) program (4-year curriculum) in the fields of Health Education, Physical Education, and Health and Physical Education in Bangkok. The research instrument was a health literacy of e-cigarette and prevention of e-cigarette questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, F-test and Pearson correlation coefficient. The results showed that the overall mean score of health literacy about e-cigarette was at moderate level (=103.92, S.D.=14.17) and the preventive behaviors were at a moderate level ( = 53.45, S.D.=10.89). When comparing health literacy about e-cigarette and prevention of e-cigarette levels by year, it was found that no differences in either health literacy or preventive behaviors. Health literacy about e-cigarette was positively correlated with prevention of e-cigarette (r=.454, p < .01). The results of this study could be used to design programs or develop short-term training curriculum to enhance health literacy about e-cigarette. The goal is to enable university students to improve their health literacy related to e-cigarettes to a level that supports the adoption of preventive behaviors against e-cigarette use and the appropriate application of such behaviors in their daily lives. Furthermore, the enhanced health literacy can be effectively applied in their future professional practice as health and physical education teachers.