Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Document Type

Thesis - NSU Access Only

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.) in Dentistry

Copyright Statement

All rights reserved. This publication is intended for use solely by faculty, students, and staff of Nova Southeastern University. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, now known or later developed, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author or the publisher.

Department

College of Dental Medicine

First Advisor

Cristina Garcia Godoy

Date of original Performance / Presentation

January 2022

Publication Date / Copyright Date

1-1-2022

Abstract

Introduction: First introduced in 2003, Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) prove to be a popular and sustainable habit. ENDS, also known as e-cigarettes, Juuls, or vapes, are tobaccoless smoking alternative. In substitution of tobacco, they are filled with high levels of nicotine and other toxic substances that are heated and then inhaled as a vapor upon use. These substances are harmful to the body systemically, physiologically, and dentally. Specifically, inhaling high levels of nicotine can harm brain development, lead to further addictions, and induce cardiac diseases. The Center for Disease Control (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and state health officials even identified a novel disease from ENDS usage called E-cigarette, or Vaping, Product Use-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI). This disease affects the respiratory system of users of all ages. As of 2021, 2.06 million U.S. middle and high school students used an e-cigarette and, as of 2019, 4.5% of all U.S. adults use e-cigarettes. With rising popularity in the United States in adults and youth, there is an increased need for an educational intervention to stop using ENDS. Orthodontists may be an ideal health care professional that can educate patients about ENDS because orthodontists interact with patients on a monthly basis over several years. Furthermore, orthodontists have a positive relationship with patients younger than 18 years old who are most susceptible to start and continue using ENDS. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate determinants of adult patient’s willingness to receive an e-cigarette educational intervention from their orthodontist. Methods: An original and validated survey was used to obtain information from patients eighteen years or older from all departments within the College of Dental Medicine from the years 2017-2020. The survey measured patient’s knowledge, perception and usage of ENDS products, and their willingness to accept an educational intervention from their orthodontist about the side effects of e-cigarettes. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to assess the specific aims. Results: Of 75 participants, 80% agreed that they would be willing to accept an orthodontic intervention about ENDS from their orthodontist. Significant bivariate associations were found between and ENDS educational intervention and marital status (p=.118), education completed (p=.120), knowing about e-cigarettes (p=.203), timing for unwanted health effects of e-cigarettes (p=.207), second hand smoke from e-cigarettes (p=.030), how a person was introduced to ENDS (p=.189), when someone started using e-cigarettes (p=.200), and when someone experienced side effects from e-cigarettes (p=.137). From the final model, stating it was not ok to have e-cigarette second hand smoke around friends/family was a predictor of willingness to accept an educational intervention from an orthodontist (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.990, 95% confident interval [CI] 0.314, 50.651). Conclusions: Our findings suggest an opportunity to encourage orthodontist to provide an e-cigarette educational intervention.

Disciplines

Dentistry

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