Media Search Frequency, Source Credibility About e-Cigarette Health Information, and Motivation to Quit EC Among University Students in Chengdu, China

Abstract

Li Wang,1,2,* Ching Sin Siau,2,* Nizam Baharom,3 Mohd Izzuddin Hairol,2 Lixin Huang,4 Lei Hum Wee2,5– 7 1Ya’an Polytechnic College, Ya’an, Sichuan, 625000, People’s Republic of China; 2Center for Community Health Studies (ReaCH), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Kuala Lumpur, 50300, Malaysia; 3Primer Healthcare Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, 71800, Malaysia; 4Chengdu Sport University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610000, People’s Republic of China; 5School of Medicine, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, 47500, Malaysia; 6Non-Communicable Diseases and Public Health Research Group, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya, 47500, Malaysia; 7Digital Health and Innovations Impact Lab, Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya, 47500, Malaysia*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Ching Sin Siau, Klinik Psikologi Kesihatan, Block G, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, 50300, Malaysia, Email [email protected]: E-cigarettes (ECs) are gaining popularity among young people. This study aimed to assess university student vapers’ search frequency and source credibility of commonly used media in China, and their association with daily EC users’ motivation to quit EC use.Participants and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving an online quantitative survey in six universities in Chengdu, China. Participants answered questions on their EC use patterns, motivation to quit EC, use frequency and source credibility of media use. Hierarchical linear regression analyses were performed to determine the association between media search frequency and source credibility concerning EC health information with the motivation to quit EC.Results: There were a total of 325 participants (Mean age = 20.43, SD = 1.333). Video platforms and social media were ranked frequently used by the participants and were deemed to be more trustworthy. Perceived trustworthiness of online media was the most influential predictor of motivation to quit EC. Those who reported a higher frequency of accessing video platforms and medical health applications recorded higher motivation to quit EC use. Source credibility of news portals were associated higher motivation to quit EC. The association between higher nicotine dependence and lower motivation to quit EC was attenuated when media source credibility and trustworthiness of online media were added into the fully adjusted regression models.Conclusion: There is an association between media use frequency and source credibility to search for EC health information and motivation to quit vaping. More studies could be conducted to examine the effects of media use content on perceptions towards vaping and their motivation to quit vaping.Keywords: vaping, media search, health information, motivation to quit, college students

Keywords

• vaping
• media search
• health information
• motivation to quit
• college students