Design and Implementation of an Information Strategy About the Risks Associated with E-Cigarette Use in Oral Health Students

Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) are perceived as safer than conventional smoking, but there is limited knowledge about their risks. This quasi-experimental study aimed to evaluate the perceived usefulness and acceptability of an innovative information strategy concerning the potential harms of e-cigarettes among university students in oral health programs in Mexico and Colombia. The methodology involved implementing a three-phase strategy, utilizing an interactive, self-managed educational game (bowling game) developed on the Genially digital platform and anchored in scientific evidence. Of the 230 invited students, 213 consented to participate in the initial phase. High engagement was demonstrated in the second phase, with 94.8% (n = 203) of students using the game for an average of 5 min and 16 s, and 25.62% answering all embedded knowledge questions correctly on the first attempt. Results from the acceptability phase (n = 36) were highly positive, with 72.2% of IUVA students and 19.4% of BUAP students agreeing the strategy was both entertaining and useful for knowledge improvement. The findings suggest that gamified and interactive digital learning strategies are highly accepted and strengthen academic commitment and knowledge acquisition regarding the public health risks of e-cigarettes. Further longitudinal studies are necessary to evaluate the sustained impact of these digital educational tools.