Knowledge of students at a Medical School in Brazil about risks of e-cigarette use: Preliminary results

<bold>Background:</bold> The use of e-cigarette is associated with important health problems including cardiovascular diseases and electronic cigarette-induced lung injury (EVALI). Medical students are potential partners of e-cigarette use prevention and cessation policies. <bold>Objective:</bold> To assess the knowledge of medical students at a Medical School in Brazil about important risks associated with e-cigarette use. <bold>Methodology:</bold> Cross-sectional study. Students from Petropolis School of Medicine (PSM) in Brazil were invited to participate. After electronically signing an informed consent form, participants anonymously answered an electronic questionnaire with 20 questions covering demographic data and basic knowledge about risks to health associated with e-cigarette use. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of PSM. <bold>Results:</bold> Among 175 students enrolled (135 female), 18% (32/175) were unaware of the components of the e-cigarette smoke and 1,7% (3/175) believe it is water vapor. Furthermore, 8,6% (14/175) were unaware that e-cigarette may cause cardiovascular disease. Although 99,4% (174/175) of medical students answered they know e-cigarette is associated with a pulmonary disease, 31% (54/175) do not know about the e-cigarette and vaping associated lung injury (EVALI). The lack of knowledge about EVALI was 5,7% (10/175) among students in the later periods of the medical course and 7,4% (13/175) among those of early periods (p > 0.05). <bold>Conclusions:</bold> Knowledge about risks associated with e-cigarette use in the sample studied is low.