Electronic Cigarettes and their Impact on Public Health

Electronic (e-) cigarettes are evolving rapidly, providing consumers with various products to choose from: e-cig-a-likes, mini-cartridge devices, and tank systems filled with liquid nicotine. These devices are legally available to adults (21 years and older) and have grown in popularity among youth (14-19 years old). E-cigarette use poses a significant and avoidable health risk to young people in the United States. There is much unknown about these products and their adverse effects on public health. In this short training, we will define and classify the types of e-cigarette. We will then compare the impact of e-cigarettes on health to combustible cigarettes, followed by health consequences.

The Western Region Public Health Training Center (WRPHTC) developed a series of courses (six) in collaboration with the Arizona Center for Tobacco Cessation (ACTC) to provide public health professionals with an understanding of tobacco dependency and evidence-based treatment that supports quitting. 

Note: For these modules, the term tobacco will refer specifically to commercial tobacco, a legal and regulated substance, and does not refer to the traditional tobacco grown and harvested by American Indians and Alaska Natives used for ceremonial or medicinal purposes.

Learning Objectives: 

By the end of this training, you will be able to:
  1. Generalize the prevalence of electronic cigarette (e-cigarettes) use among adults and youth
  2. Classify the types of e-cigarettes
  3. Describe the impact of the e-cigarette on health
  4. Distinguish the impact of e-cigarettes on health to combustibles cigarettes

Target Audience: Health and human service providers, medical and allied health professionals and students, community health influencers, administrators, policymakers, and those in specialty areas of health and human service professions: Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Physicians, Pharmacists, Health Educators, Wellness Coaches, Dental Hygienists, Addiction Counselors, Respiratory Therapists, etc.

Duration:  35 minutes

Continuing Education Information: 0.5 CECH for CHES

Format:  Web-based Training, Self-Study

Disclosures:  The planners, reviewers, and authors have no declared conflicts of interest

Created/Updated: January 2021

Authors: 

Mark Boldt, Director, Tobacco Cessation Training Institute.
Jazmin C. Villavicencio, Tobacco Treatment Training Specialist
Krista Walker, Tobacco Cessation Training Specialist

Dipanwita Das, Senior Instructional Designer


Skill Level: Advanced
CHES Event ID#: SS99036_ELIPH
Category 1 Credits: 0.5
Continuing Competency Credits: 0.5
Advanced Credits: 0
Level 1: No
Level 2: No
Level 3: No
Primary Tier: Tier One
Primary Domain: Public Health Sciences Skills
Secondary Domain: Data Analytics and Assessment Skills