PL

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

Affiliation and address for correspondence
Pediatr Med Rodz 2025; 21 (2)
10.15557/PiMR.2025.0017
Abstract

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.

Keywords
children, adolescent, electronic nicotine delivery systems, e-cigarettes

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