PERCEPTIONS AND KNOWLEDGE OF MEDICAL AND DENTAL STUDENTS REGARDING ORAL NICOTINE POUCHES

Abstract

Objective: To assess the knowledge and perceptions of medical and dental students regarding nicotine pouches. To determine the perceptions of medical and dental students regarding the health risks and benefits of nicotine pouches.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 355 students enrolled in medical and dental colleges of Peshawar was conducted. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire that underwent content validation and pilot testing. Participants were recruited through simple convenience sampling. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 22. Frequency tables and percentages were generated for different categorical variables. To assess association between different variables chi-square test was used and p<0.05 was considered significant.

Results: Around 93.3% were aware of nicotine pouches, but knowledge gaps existed regarding their tobacco-free and addictive nature. Most participants (87.9%) recognized their addictive properties, and 88.2% linked them to oral cancer risk. Peer influence was identified as a major driver of use. While 73.3% felt confident counseling patients, 89.1% supported integrating nicotine-related topics into curricula to address misconceptions and health risks. Male participants demonstrated significantly greater knowledge about nicotine pouches and their addictive nature compared to females. MBBS students were more likely to attribute the popularity of nicotine pouches to peer influence than BDS students.

Conclusion: This study found that medical and dental students in Peshawar were aware of nicotine pouches but had misconceptions about their composition and health risks. To combat this issue, increased education and awareness campaigns are crucial, especially for young adults, who are particularly vulnerable to nicotine addiction.