Abstract
BACKGROUND: The electronic cigarette, or e-cigarette, has transformed the tobacco industry in recent decades and is widely seen as a safe substitute for traditional cigarettes. Globally, young people's use of electronic cigarettes that provide nicotine has increased significantly. Adolescents who use electronic cigarettes are vulnerable to social and environmental factors in addition to physical dependence. The study aims to investigate young adults' awareness, perceptions, and use of e-cigarettes to inform the development of interventions and educational campaigns targeting potential health risks associated with these devices. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among individuals aged 18 to 24 in Chennai. An e-invitation to participate in the study was distributed via social media (Facebook, WhatsApp). The study included those in Chennai between the ages of 18 and 24, as well as volunteers to complete the questionnaire. The simple random sampling method was used. A web-based questionnaire study was conducted in online; 333 respondents were included. The questionnaire comprised three sections, the first of which contains sociodemographic information, the second section on awareness of e-cigarettes, and the third section on knowledge of e-cigarettes. The questionnaire was pilot-tested on five subjects, and suggestions from study experts were incorporated. Data were analysed using Minitab Version 21 (Minitab, LLC, State college, PA) statistical software. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the data. Since the data were categorical, Chi-square test was used to find the association between variables in the study. RESULTS: About 63.3% of respondents had tobacco prevention programs conducted at their colleges, 90.1% of respondents had not used e-cigarettes, 20.5% were aware of the programs and resources available to quit smoking and vaping, and 45.8% of respondents had knowledge of cancer associated with the use of an e-cigarette. CONCLUSIONS: The findings reveal a significant disparity in awareness between the two regions, with Chennai demonstrating higher levels of understanding than Chengalpattu where the majority of respondents in both areas were not users of e-cigarettes.