Should medical professionals focus more on e-cigarette user among young people in Poland?
Paulina Kurdyś-Bykowska1, Leon Kośmider2, Wojciech Bykowski3, Dawid Konwant1, Krystyna Stencel-Gabriel1

Introduction and objective: The initial surge in the popularity of e-cigarettes among adults was largely driven by their perceived potential to aid in quitting traditional cigarettes. Anti-smoking prevention is a crucial aspect of public health aimed at reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with tobacco-related diseases. Materials and methods: This study aimed to evaluate tobacco prevention among youths in Poland by surveying a sample of 10,388 individuals aged 12–18 through an online questionnaire. Findings revealed that 32.2% (3,347) of respondents had smoked cigarettes, 37.8% (3,924) had used e-cigarettes, and 10.4% (1,078) had tried heated tobacco products. Results: The highest smoking prevalence was observed in rural areas (50.4%) and small towns (26.22%). Only 26.7% (1,165) of adolescents reported being asked about smoking by a doctor, and just 5.7% (249) were offered counselling. Gender analysis showed that doctors discussed smoking more frequently with boys (28.66%) than with girls (25.02%; OR = 1.20; CI = 0.95). Urban children were more likely to be asked about tobacco use than their rural peers (OR = 1.26; CI = 0.95). Among those who had used cigarettes or e-cigarettes in the past 30 days, only 6.45% (139) received support to quit from a doctor. Conclusions: The findings highlight a need to enhance healthcare communication regarding smoking among paediatric patients, as a significant number of youths who have tried tobacco or marijuana products have not engaged in discussions about smoking with their doctors, nor have they received assistance in quitting.