European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

background: Most health care providers are aware of e-cigarettes, but the information is scarce regarding the magnitude of this newly emerged habit in Saudi Arabia, since introduction in the early 2000s, e-cigarette use has rapidly increased among adolescents worldwide. then adult  However, little is known about e-cigarette uptake among adolescents in Saudi Arabia. Tobacco smoking is highly prevalent in Saudi Arabia, and there is a need to reduce the resultant health burden via patient-oriented smoking cessation interventions. Primary care physicians (PCPs) have a significant role in providing counseling and advice to quit smoking.
World Health Organization (WHO) reported tobacco use as one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, mentioned that in 2015, over one billion people smoked tobacco. This study aimed to assess Prevalence of Electronic Cigarettes Use Among health care providers in the Primary Health Care in Makkah, Although it is declining worldwide in many countries, the prevalence of tobacco smoking appears to be increasing in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
.Aim of the study
This study aimed to assess Prevalence of Electronic Cigarettes Use Among health care providers in the Primary Health Care in Makkah 2019.
methods:Cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out, including a random representative sample of health care providersin the Primary Health Care in Makkah.A self-administered validated questionnaire was adopted and modified. The Sample size of medical practitioners . Our total participants were (500)
Results: showed that the majority of the participant were (52.0%) smoker regarding smoking period the majority while <5 were (35.0%), Current use of e-cigarettes were(72.0%) and (30.0%) of the participant knew that the electronic cigarettes contain nicotine whereas 56.15% did not know if e-cigarettes contain nicotine or not. Most of the students (75.0%) thought that the electronic cigarette is harmful to health.
Conclusion:The prevalence of e-cigarettes smoking among health care providers in the Primary Health Care in Makkah. was found relatively high and most common reasons to smoke e-cigarettes were similar taste to conventional cigarettes, adequate nicotine, helping in control of smoking behavior, perceived less harmful effects than conventional cigarettes, and low cost. E-cigarettes have been tried and currently used by a considerable proportion of health care providers. Some associated factors were identified.