AU - Bharadwaj, Aarya
AU - Vijayalakshmi, B
AU - Raju, Rekha
AU - Gubbihal, Radha
AU - Kousalya, Pallavi
TI - Awareness regarding E-cigarettes among public health dentists in dental colleges of Bengaluru: A population study
PT - ORIG
DP - 2020 Oct 1
TA - Journal of Indian Association of Public Health Dentistry
PG - 318-322
VI - 18
IP - 4
4099- https://journals.lww.com/aphd/pages/default.aspx/article.asp?issn=2319-5932;year=2020;volume=18;issue=4;spage=318;epage=322;aulast=Bharadwaj;type=0
4100- https://journals.lww.com/aphd/pages/default.aspx/article.asp?issn=2319-5932;year=2020;volume=18;issue=4;spage=318;epage=322;aulast=Bharadwaj
AB -
Background: Available in the market as replacements to conventional cigarettes, the evidence regarding the efficacy of electronic cigarettes (E-cigarettes) in smoking cessation is unclear, while potentially harmful health effects have been reported. Public health dentists in dental colleges are likely to encounter E-cigarette users as they are involved in tobacco cessation counseling. Aim: The aim was to assess the knowledge and awareness about E-cigarettes among dental public health faculty and postgraduate students in dental colleges of Bengaluru. Materials and Methods: Dental public health faculty members and postgraduate students in all dental colleges of Bengaluru participated in this population-based, cross-sectional, questionnaire study. Questionnaires were handed out after written consent was obtained. Questions included the participants' details and ten knowledge questions with sub-questions on E-cigarettes. Data analysis was done by computing descriptive statistics and Chi-square test to determine its associated factors using SPSS v. 22. Level of significance was kept at 5%. Results: A total of 129 public health dentists were a part of the study, with 60.5% being postgraduate students and the rest comprising faculty members. One hundred and seven participants had previously heard of E-cigarettes. The mean knowledge score of the whole study population was 5.813 (standard deviation –1.83) out of a maximum score of 14 and was considered fair. This was statistically significantly associated with participants' smoking status (P = 0.05). Conclusions: This study concluded that most participants were aware of E-Cigarettes. Their knowledge level ranged from poor to fair and was significantly associated with their smoking status.