WED-066 - Vaping and exposure to secondhand smoke among adults in the United States

Brief Abstract Summary: This research investigates vaping knowledge, attitudes, and practices among adults, focusing on secondhand smoke exposure. A self-administered online survey was distributed via social media and shared in public places to 18-80-year-olds living in the United States. The survey will incorporate established scales, including the National Youth Tobacco Survey, Short Form Vaping Consequences Questionnaire, Secondhand Exposure Scale, and STOP-Bang Survey.
The study explored the association between secondhand smoke exposure and health risk. It also explored the individual, social, and environmental factors that contribute to vape adoption and maintenance among adults. Data analysis employs SPSS for frequency tables, Chi-square, and Pearson correlation tests. The findings provided insights into vaping behaviors, secondhand smoke exposure, and related health risks, informing evidence-based interventions for reducing vape use and secondhand smoke exposure and promoting healthier communities.

Detailed abstract description: A strong and favorable correlation between SHS exposure and potential obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults has been found. Globally, cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. In 2020, tobacco use caused 2.4 million of the approximately 10 million deaths worldwide from cancer. It has been determined that over 70 components of tobacco smoke are carcinogens. Secondhand smoke has been identified as a carcinogen by the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection and the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
There has been a knowledge gap about the national extent and demographic correlations of these challenges because previous research has concentrated on certain age groups, geographic areas, or populations. Through this presentation, there will be uncovering of Vaping Trends and Secondhand Smoke Risks. It will also reveal insights from a quantitative study on vaping knowledge, attitudes, and practices among adults, informing evidence-based interventions for reducing secondhand smoke exposure. This presentation will contribute to the identification of the myriad risks linked to secondhand smoke exposure, which includes lung cancer and obstructive sleep apnea. The results of this study on the use of vapes and the effects of secondhand smoke will support the enforcement of smoke-free acts prohibiting smoking in public areas and in homes to lower the incidence of the associated risk. Participants will gain an understanding of factors linked to e-cigarette use, including its contributing factors; this will aid in the development and implementation of interventions addressing the growing trend of e-cigarette use among adults.