Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39833859›Full record

ArticleBMC nursing2025

Usage, knowledge and attitudes towards electronic cigarettes use among nursing students in Croatia: a cross-sectional study.

Leopold Kajan, Livia Puljak, Ivica Matić, Mario Marendić, Sanja Zoranić, Kata Ivanišević, Dijana Majstorović, Zrinka Puharić, Nataša Skitarelić, Marijana Neuberg and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC nursing, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Leopold KajanDepartment of Nursing, Catholic University of Croatia, Ilica 244, Zagreb, Croatia.
Livia PuljakDepartment of Nursing, Catholic University of Croatia, Ilica 244, Zagreb, Croatia. livia.puljak@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8467-6061
Ivica MatićDepartment of Nursing, Catholic University of Croatia, Ilica 244, Zagreb, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4334-1158
Mario MarendićUniversity Department of Health Studies, University of Split, Split, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2968-1175
Sanja ZoranićDepartment of Nursing, University of Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3686-2353
Kata IvaniševićFaculty of Health Studies, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5830-2640
Dijana MajstorovićFaculty of Medicine, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Pula, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2933-7497
Zrinka PuharićFaculty of Dental Medicine and Health, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2274-8293
Nataša SkitarelićDepartment of Health Studies, University of Zadar, Zadar, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7155-8648
Marijana NeubergDepartment of Nursing, University North, Varazdin, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1850-3808
Ivana BaraćFaculty of Dental Medicine and Health, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7539-2019
Snježana ČukljekFaculty of Health Studies, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6435-5818
Marta ČivljakDepartment of Nursing, Catholic University of Croatia, Ilica 244, Zagreb, Croatia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6211-0174

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEvidence shows harmful effects of e-cigarettes on health. There is limited data on the use of e-cigarettes among nursing students. This study aimed to investigate the usage, knowledge, and attitudes towards e-cigarettes among nursing students in Croatia, as well as their views on the role of nurses in counseling patients and assisting with smoking cessation.

methodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted via an online questionnaire among nursing students at 10 universities in Croatia in March/April 2024. Students were asked questions about socio-demographics, knowledge and attitudes towards e-cigarettes and their views on the role of nurses in counseling patients and assisting with smoking cessation.

resultsThe study included 1,039 participants; 89% were women, 43% were smokers; 53% used e-cigarettes and 76% used them for recreational purposes. 21% of participants agreed that e-cigarettes are an effective method for quitting smoking. More than half indicated that e-cigarettes could encourage non-smokers to start smoking. The majority (60%) reported that they had never received education on smoking cessation at university. Furthermore, 66% stated that they did not feel confident advising smokers about e-cigarettes. The majority (70%) considered physicians to be the most knowledgeable health experts to advise and educate users of e-cigarettes. There were no significant differences in attitudes between smokers and non-smokers on the use of e-cigarettes. Participants demonstrated insufficient knowledge about e-cigarettes. Non-smokers had more positive attitudes towards the role of nurses in combating smoking compared to smokers. Participants who had received education on smoking cessation were more willing to advise smokers and had clearer views on the risks and the importance of the nurse's role in the quitting process compared to those who had not received such education. Smoking status and age were significant predictors of counseling confidence.

conclusionThe study found a high prevalence of smoking and e-cigarette use among Croatian nursing students, along with limited knowledge and generally negative attitudes towards e-cigarettes. It highlighted gaps in education regarding the health risks of e-cigarettes and the lack of practical skills needed to help smokers quit, suggesting that nursing programs should update their curricula to better prepare students in these areas.

Indexed as

Cross-sectional studiesElectronic cigarettesKnowledge, attitudes, practiceNursing studentsSmoking preventionTobacco use disorder

Identifiers

PMID39833859
PMCPMC11744820

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.