Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41752226›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of environmental research and public health2026

Traditional and Electronic Cigarette Usage Patterns, Dependence, and Perceptions Among Ajman University Students.

Khaldoun Tabbah, Safielrahman Haitham Sami Elawaddlly, Ahmad Jalal Kanawati, Mahmoud Tariq Al Ammour, Abdulrahman Salem Abufanas, Dena Nashaat Hamza, Abdul Ilah Ghazwan Dakak, Doha Farouk Abdelhafiz, Mohamad Mohamad Munzer Madarati

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of environmental research and public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–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

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Spirometric Lung Function Among Smokers and Non-Smokers: A Cross-Sectional Study in University Students.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2026
    Article
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

9 authors.

Khaldoun TabbahClinical & Medical Education Department, College of Medicine, Ajman University, Ajman P.O. Box 346, United Arab Emirates.ORCID 0000-0003-4614-0466
Safielrahman Haitham Sami ElawaddllyCollege of Medicine, Ajman University, Ajman P.O. Box 346, United Arab Emirates.ORCID 0009-0007-9959-7538
Ahmad Jalal KanawatiCollege of Medicine, Ajman University, Ajman P.O. Box 346, United Arab Emirates.ORCID 0009-0005-3403-9768
Mahmoud Tariq Al AmmourCollege of Medicine, Ajman University, Ajman P.O. Box 346, United Arab Emirates.ORCID 0009-0001-4277-2119
Abdulrahman Salem AbufanasCollege of Medicine, Ajman University, Ajman P.O. Box 346, United Arab Emirates.ORCID 0009-0007-1347-8432
Dena Nashaat HamzaCollege of Medicine, Ajman University, Ajman P.O. Box 346, United Arab Emirates.ORCID 0009-0002-8359-2234
Abdul Ilah Ghazwan DakakCollege of Medicine, Ajman University, Ajman P.O. Box 346, United Arab Emirates.ORCID 0009-0008-5760-918X
Doha Farouk AbdelhafizCollege of Medicine, Ajman University, Ajman P.O. Box 346, United Arab Emirates.
Mohamad Mohamad Munzer MadaratiCollege of Medicine, Ajman University, Ajman P.O. Box 346, United Arab Emirates.ORCID 0009-0002-4277-2343

Funding

Ajman University 2023-IRG-MED-4
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNicotine use among the youth has been on the rise, especially with the introduction of E-cigarettes. This has sparked concerns regarding E-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes in terms of patterns, dependence, and perceptions within the youth population, which are issues this study aimed to investigate.

methodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted among university students at Ajman University, which is in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Using the Cigarette Dependence Scale (CDS-12) and Penn State Electronic Cigarette Dependence Index (PS-ECDI), dependence on both cigarettes and E-cigarettes was quantified.

resultsOut of 1713 respondents, 18.9% were currently using nicotine products, including E-cigarettes (12.7%) and traditional cigarettes (5.1%). Nicotine use was significantly associated more with males than females with an odds ratio of 4.14. However, there was no difference between genders in the dependence scores. In addition, dual nicotine use and an earlier onset of nicotine consumption were associated with significantly higher dependence scores than single users and a late onset of smoking. Participants overall attributed cigarettes and E-cigarettes as equally harmful.

conclusionsBoth cigarette and e-cigarette use were prevalent and associated with notable dependence. Although E-cigarettes are often promoted as cessation aids, their use in our sample did not appear to facilitate quitting and may instead sustain nicotine dependence. Targeted youth-focused cessation programs and stricter marketing and sales regulations are essential to prevent further normalization. Longitudinal studies are needed to track evolving patterns and health impacts in the MENA region.

Indexed as

Electronic Nicotine Delivery SystemsSmokingStudentsTobacco ProductsTobacco Use DisorderAdolescentAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle EastUniversitiesYoung Adultcigarettesdual useE-cigarettesharm perceptionMENA regionnicotine dependencepublic healthshishauniversity students

Identifiers

PMID41752226
PMCPMC12941306

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

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.