Are the Harms of e-cigarettes recognized by Society?

<bold>Introduction:</bold> Since the 17th century, tobacco manufacturing has continuously innovated the form of tobacco to attract more consumers. Among the recent forms of smoking, the electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) is nowadays perceived by some individuals as a harmless alternative to conventional cigarettes. <bold>Objective:</bold> To assess knowledges of electronic cigarettes among Tunisians. <bold>Methods:</bold> A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2022 and January 2024 using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire distributed on social media. A total knowledge score (TKS) was calculated for each respondent. <bold>Results:</bold> We included 380 individuals. The mean age was 32 years with a female predominance and a gender ratio of 0.69. Conventional cigarette consumption was found in 35.8% of the population, while 9% used e-cigarettes. More than 30% of the population admitted to having an attraction towards e-cigarettes, with the most frequent reason being that they considered it an effective means of smoking cessation (39%). Seventy percent of the population found that e-cigarettes are better perceived by society than conventional cigarettes. The mean TKS was 54%. The question with the highest proportion of incorrect responses was: “Do the harmful effects of e-cigarettes differ from one flavor to another?” (57.8%). <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Harmful effects of e-cigarettes are not well known by Tunisians. Awareness companions are strongly recommended.