Table 3 The association between participants’ knowledge and perceptions about e-cigarettes and their use of e-cigarettes (n = 1160).

1. How do you rate your knowledge level about e-cigarettes?

 Nothing

110 (9.5)

104 (10.5)^a

6 (3.5)^b

 Low

547 (47.2)

488 (49.4)^a

59 (34.1)^b

 Moderate

441 (38.0)

353 (35.8)^a

88 (50.9)^b

 High

62 (5.3)

42 (4.3)^a

20 (11.6)^b

2. Do you think e-cigarettes contain nicotine?

 Agree/strongly agree

706 (60.9)

563 (57.0)^a

143 (82.7)^b

 Neutral

383 (33.0)

366 (37.1)^a

17 (9.8)^b

 Disagree/strongly disagree

71 (6.1)

58 (5.9)^a

13 (7.5)^a

3. Do you think e-cigarettes contain carcinogenic materials?

 Agree/strongly agree

744 (64.1)

653 (66.2)^a

91 (52.6)^b

 Neutral

372 (32.1)

309 (31.3)^a

63 (36.4)^a

 Disagree/strongly disagree

44 (3.8)

25 (2.5)^a

19 (11.0)^b

4. Do you believe e-cigarettes are safe to use compared to cigarettes?

 Agree/strongly agree

219 (18.9)

157 (15.9)^a

62 (35.8)^b

 Neutral

274 (23.6)

213 (21.6)^a

61 (35.3)^b

 Disagree/strongly disagree

667 (57.5)

617 (62.5)^a

50 (28.9)^b

5. Do you believe passive vaping of e-cigarettes is safer than tobacco passive smoking?

 Agree/strongly agree

358 (30.9)

265 (26.8)^a

93 (53.8)^b

 Neutral

319 (27.50

281 (28.5)^a

38 (22.0)^a

 Disagree/strongly disagree

483 (41.6)

441 (44.7)^a

42 (24.3)^b

6. Do you believe the use of e-cigarettes can help in smoking cessation?

 Agree/strongly agree

200 (17.2)

137 (13.9)^a

63 (36.4)^b

 Neutral

251 (21.6)

213 (21.6)^a

38 (22.0)^a

 Disagree/strongly disagree

709 (61.1)

637 (64.5)^a

72 (41.6)^b

7. For those who switched completely from tobacco smoking to e-cigarettes, do you believe that there is a positive impact on their general health status and normal life activities?

 Agree/strongly agree

267 (23.0)

205 (20.8)^a

62 (35.9)^b

 Neutral

326 (28.1)

273 (27.7)^a

53 (30.6)^a

 Disagree/strongly disagree

567 (48.9)

509 (51.5)^a

58 (33.5)^b

8. Do you think e-cigarettes are cost-effective (cheaper) compared to tobacco smoking?

 Agree/strongly agree

486 (41.9)

381 (38.6)^a

105 (60.7)^b

 Neutral

320 (27.6)

298 (30.2)^a

22 (12.7)^b

 Disagree/strongly disagree

354 (30.5)

308 (31.2)^a

46 (26.6)^a

9. Do you believe e-cigarettes may be a gateway to conventional smoking?

 Agree/strongly agree

839 (72.3)

724 (73.4)^a

115 (66.5)^a

 Neutral

217 (18.7)

188 (19.0)^a

29 (16.8)^a

 Disagree/strongly disagree

104 (9.0)

75 (7.6)^a

29 (16.8)^b

10. Do you believe e-cigarette use is a public health concern?

 Agree/strongly agree

932 (80.3)

822 (83.3)^a

110 (63.6)^b

 Neutral

173 (14.9)

129 (13.1)^a

44 (25.4)^b

 Disagree/strongly disagree

55 (4.7)

36 (3.6)^a

19 (11.0)^b

11. Do you believe e-cigarette use can cause addiction to smoking?

 Agree/strongly agree

868 (74.8)

760 (77.0)^a

108 (62.4)^b

 Neutral

198 (17.1)

168 (17.0)^a

30 (17.3)^a

 Disagree/strongly disagree

94 (8.1)

59 (6.0)^a

35 (20.2)^b

12. Do you believe e-cigarettes should be regulated in closed, public, or working places like other tobacco products?

 Agree/strongly agree

893 (77.0)

818 (82.9)^a

75 (43.4)^b

 Neutral

141 (12.1)

110 (11.1)^a

31 (17.9)^b

 Disagree/strongly disagree

126 (10.9)

59 (6.0)^a

67 (38.7)^b