Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40851755›Full record

ArticleTobacco induced diseases2025

Usage patterns, knowledge, and attitudes of healthcare providers regarding e-cigarettes: A cross-sectional study in Saudi Arabia.

Ali M Alasmari, Ahmed A Alzahrani, Keir E J Philip, Ziyad Alshehri, Saeed M Alghamdi, Abdullah S Alsulayyim, Marey A Almaghrabi, Fahad H Alahmadi, Abdulrhman M Hawsawi, Moudi M Alasmari

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Article in Tobacco induced diseases, 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

10 authors.

Ali M AlasmariRespiratory Therapy Department, College of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia.
Ahmed A AlzahraniNational Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
Keir E J PhilipNational Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
Ziyad AlshehriRespiratory Therapy Department, College of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia.
Saeed M AlghamdiClinical Technology Department, Respiratory Care Program, College of Applied Medical Science, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Abdullah S AlsulayyimRespiratory Therapy Program, Department of Nursing, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
Marey A AlmaghrabiDepartment of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia.
Fahad H AlahmadiRespiratory Therapy Department, College of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia.
Abdulrhman M HawsawiRespiratory Therapy Department, College of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia.
Moudi M AlasmariCollege of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionAs electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) gain global popularity, healthcare providers (HCPs) play a critical role in shaping public health responses. In Saudi Arabia, little is known about HCPs' perspectives on e-cigarettes. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate HCPs' knowledge and attitudes toward e-cigarette use and examine differences based on their personal usage patterns.

methodsThis is an observational, cross-sectional study. An online questionnaire was distributed from February to May 2024 among HCPs in Saudi Arabia. The survey, which was previously validated, collected data on sociodemographic, smoking characteristics, and 17 items designed to assess HCPs' knowledge and attitudes about e-cigarette use.

resultsA total of 301 HCPs participated in the study. Among the participants, 19.3% were nurses, 18.9% were PharmDs, 13.2% were dentists, 24.3% were respiratory therapists (RTs), and 24.3% were medical doctors (MDs). Approximately 64% of the respondents were male, and the median age was 32 years (IQR: 22-55). E-cigarette users comprised 22.9% of the respondents. The prevalence of e-cigarette use was highest among dentists (20.0%), with lower rates observed among respiratory therapists (11.0%), nurses (8.6%), pharmacists (7.0%), and medical doctors (6.8%). The majority of respondents (68.1%) recognized that e-cigarettes contain nicotine, 64.5% believed that e-cigarettes are addictive, and 48.9% were unsure whether e-cigarettes are FDA-approved products. Additionally, 33.3% of HCPs relied primarily on social media for information about e-cigarettes. HCPs strongly agreed [median score: 5 (IQR: 4-5)] that HCPs should be educated about e-cigarettes. HCPs who used e-cigarettes exhibited significantly more favorable attitudes toward e-cigarettes compared to non-users, based on the total score (p=0.020).

conclusionsHCPs' knowledge and attitudes regarding e-cigarettes vary widely in Saudi Arabia. Specific, targeted, and regularly updated educational initiatives are needed to ensure that healthcare professionals are confident and well informed regarding the use, risks, and guidelines related to e-cigarettes.

Indexed as

attitudese-cigaretteshealthcare providersknowledgeSaudi Arabia

Identifiers

PMID40851755
PMCPMC12369480

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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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 Socratic graph.