Vaping Influences and Perceptions Among College Students With Asthma

Abstract

Background: The long-term health risks associated with the use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) is still a topic of concern in public health. The use of these devices has been linked to the inhalation of many harmful chemicals, carcinogens, heavy metals, nicotine, and irritants that can trigger the inflammation of an asthmatic user’s airways. Our study sought to assess influencers of use with asthmatic students.

Methods: An online survey was administered in 2019 via Qualtrics to undergraduates attending the University of Tampa. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 25.0 to evaluate behaviors, demographics, and attitudes pertaining to vaping/JUULing among students who have been diagnosed with asthma.

Results: Our sample size consisted of 315 participants who self-reported having asthma (N=315). Most participants were White/Caucasian females of ages 18 and 19 years. Of these, 33.3% said that their friend influenced them to vape (n=105). Students responded that their preferred ENDS was the JUUL and that they had primarily vaped nicotine and THC. There was a positive correlation between how many times a student vapes in a day and their attitude about vaping (r= 0.289; P-value < 0.01).

Conclusions: Students who vape more frequently during the day are more likely to find vaping favorable. Programs should focus on changing behaviors early in the experimentation phase to deter vaping.