E-cigarette Attitude and Belief Scale in Adolescents: A Validity and Reliability Study

Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use has increased significantly since its appearance on the global market in the mid-2000s. International studies have indicated that substance use among children is as prevalent as 7.8% worldwide and 15.4% among high school students in Türkiye. To prevent this public health problem, it is necessary to understand why adolescents use e-cigarettes. This study aimed to develop an attitude and belief scale about adolescent e-cigarette use. Chronic disease-free adolescents aged 14-18 who applied to pediatric outpatient clinics were invited to the study. Three hundred forty eligible participants were recruited. The scale on e-cigarette use was developed in light of the existing literature and comprises a total of 31 questions, including 20 assessing beliefs and 11 assessing attitudes. Following specialist reviews, the following exploratory factor analysis, internal consistency analysis, criterion validity analysis, discriminant validity analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, test-retest reliability analysis, and internal validity tests were conducted. The 18-item scale, which has been proven to measure attitudes and beliefs toward e-cigarettes, is sufficient, valid, and reliable. The developed "E-cigarette Attitude and Belief Scale in Adolescents" scale can be a critical tool for future studies. Gaining insight into adolescents' attitudes and beliefs toward e-cigarettes can contribute to creating targeted educational and awareness initiatives on this issue.