Abstract :
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have become increasingly popular globally, including in Saudi Arabia, raising concerns about public awareness and use. This study aimed to assess the awareness of the general population of Qassim, Saudi Arabia towards e-cigarettes and the association with sociodemographic factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted among the general population of Qassim, Saudi Arabia from January to March 2024. A convenient sample of 422 participants completed an online self-administered questionnaire to assess their awareness and attitudes towards e-cigarettes. Descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for data analysis. The mean awareness score was 3.79 (SD=1.3) out of 6. Awareness was significantly higher among females, higher income groups, divorced/married, and retired participants. Over 94% of participants had heard about e-cigarettes previously, but 50.9% had never smoked. While 35.5% had used e-cigarettes, 54% of them used e-cigarettes with nicotine. Most participants (64.0%) believed e-cigarettes may have associated health risks, and 77.7% thought there should be age restrictions on e-cigarette use. The general population in Qassim, Saudi Arabia had moderate awareness about e-cigarettes, with variations across sociodemographic groups. Targeted educational campaigns are needed to improve awareness about the potential harms of e-cigarette use, especially among high-risk groups.