Where college students look for vaping information and what information they believe

Abstract

<b>Objective:</b> This convergent mixed methods study examined how information sources influence college students' beliefs and knowledge about vaping. <b>Participants:</b> College students either completed a survey (<i>n</i> = 522; January-April, 2016) or were interviewed (<i>n</i> = 33; 2015-2016). <b>Methods:</b> College students completed an online survey asking 'where' students had heard about e-cigarette and 'what' they had heard. Responses were quantified and a chi-square analysis was conducted. Additional college student e-cigarette users were interviewed about the credibility of information sources. Thematic analysis was conducted with the coded interviews. <b>Results:</b> There was a significant relationship between information sources for e-cigarettes (social sources, media, advertising, education/research) and the messages they recalled. Friends who vaped and e-cigarette users were the most credible information sources. Confirmation bias and scientific impotence bias characterized assessment of e-cigarette information. <b>Conclusions:</b> Health education specialists working on college campuses should provide accurate information via communication channels most unitized by college students.