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INTRODUCTION The deleterious health effects of tobacco smoking on mental health and other components of overall wellbeing have been well documented. Though the side effects of electronic cigarettes (ECs) need further investigation, ECs are widely gaining popularity and are chiefly marketed as a safer alternative to conventional cigarette smoking. This study assessed the predictors of electronic cigarette use as well as its association with mental health among residents of Lagos state, Nigeria. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study which employed the use of a validated interviewer-administered questionnaire, among participants aged =18 years. The survey had six sections: sociodemographic information, smoking and lifestyle characteristics, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), knowledge and attitude about e-cigarettes, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Susceptibility to smoking cigarettes. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was done using sociodemographic variables and clinical variables, to identify factors associated with poor knowledge, negative attitude, and predictors of e-cigarette use. A p<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS Data from 898 participants were analyzed; the respondents were predominantly male (65.1%) and the mean age was 33.00 ± 18.38 years. A total of 117 persons (13.1%) were electronic cigarette (EC) users, and the mean duration of EC use was 11.99 ±14.25 months. Amongst EC users, the factors associated with use were socializing (30.8%) and conventional tobacco smoking cessation (15.4%). The majority (56.2%) of the study participants had good knowledge of ECs while 52.9% had a negative attitude. There was a significant association (p<0.05) between poor knowledge and negative attitude about ECs use, cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, and susceptibility to smoking. Depression was also a strong predictor of e-cigarette use. CONCLUSIONS This study found that cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption and susceptibility to smoking cigarettes and depression were strong predictors of EC use. Policymakers in Nigeria should consider forging policies which aim at ensuring correct information dissemination on ECs in the media, and discourage the use of ECs by social vapers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: this study assessed the relationship between exposure to secondhand smoking (SHS) and its association with self-reported anxiety, depression and susceptibility to smoking among adolescents in Lagos, Nigeria. Methods: depression among study subjects was determined using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) while the Generalized Anxiety Disorder- 7 (GAD-7) was used to determine anxiety levels. Susceptibility to smoking cigarettes was also determined while the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) 26.0 software was used for data analysis. Significant associations were determined at Pvalues <0.05. Results: of the 300 adolescents surveyed (mean age 12.9±1.43), 7.6 % were regularly exposed to SHS, of which 3.0% were daily exposed to SHS indoors. In multivariable analyses, indoor SHS exposure for = 1 hour daily was associated with increased odds for susceptibility to smoking (AOR=3.793; 95%-CI: 0.98-14.60; p= 0.052) and increased odds for depression (AOR=1.303; 95%-CI: 0.84-2.01; p= 0.228) and slightly reduced odds for anxiety (AOR=0.952; 95%- CI: 0.62-1.47; p=0.822). Conclusion: secondhand smoking exposure was associated with higher odds of susceptibility to smoking cigarettes and depression among adolescents exposed to SHS, especially among females living in cramped accommodations. Further validation of these findings should however be determined by cohort study designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Waterpipe smoking (WPS) has been reported to have a wide range of damaging health effects on pulmonary and cardiovascular systems. Studies suggest that waterpipe tobacco smoking is associated with reduced harm perceptions, mental health problems and the use of psychoactive substances. We investigate the patterns of use and the association of WPS with anxiety, poly-tobacco and alcohol use in Lagos, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used to assess the data from 818 adolescents and adults in Lagos State, Nigeria. An online questionnaire obtained demographic information, waterpipe, e-cigarette, alcohol and other tobacco product use from respondents. Anxiety was assessed using the validated Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7-point scale. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors associated with waterpipe ever-use. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean (standard deviation) age of respondents was 23.43 (±3.96), over half were female (55.2%) and a majority had a college diploma or more (88.59%). Among study participants, 18.58% reported waterpipe ever-use. Among ever waterpipe users, 17.33% reported current use (past 30-days), with a majority having smoked waterpipe in a bar or pub. Alcohol use (P < 0.001), e-cigarette ever-use (P: 0.010) and poly-tobacco ever-use (P: 0.030) were significantly associated with higher odds of waterpipe use in the multivariate regression model. Further, there was a lower likelihood of waterpipe ever-use in the bivariate regression model among respondents with mild and moderate to severe anxiety levels than those with normal anxiety levels (P: 0.030); however, this association was no longer significant in the adjusted model. Conclusions: Our findings suggest a relatively high prevalence of WPS in Lagos, Nigeria. Concurrent alcohol consumption, e-cigarette and poly-tobacco use are associated with WPS, and most waterpipe smokers have normal anxiety levels. The Nigerian Government should consider surveillance measures for WPS and a more comprehensive smoke-free policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Limitations in dental access and challenges associated with service delivery often necessitates the usage of an appointment system in patient care. This research aimed to determine the association between levels of dental anxiety in dental patients and dental treatment appointment at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH). Materials and Methods: A descriptive study at a tertiary hospital in Lagos State. A systematic sampling method was used to enlist 149 study patients in four clinical dental departments in LASUTH, whereas sociodemographic, clinical history, and anxiety-related data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess inconvenience, whereas the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) was used for anxiety assessment. Data entry and analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20, P value of <0.05 was considered significant. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 25.3 ± 6.8; 53% had never had a dental visit and majority felt inconvenient by the length of dental appointment (62.7%; mean VAS = 5.95 ± 2.72); higher levels of inconvenience was significantly associated with levels of anxiety (MDAS--13.96 ± 4.8; P = 0.010). At baseline, age group ≤20 years (MDAS--15.21 ± 4.0; P = 0.026), female gender (MDAS--14.44 ± 4.8; P = 0.042), and primary level of education (MDAS--0.029; P = 15.25 ± 4.7) were significantly associated with high levels of anxiety. At baseline, 14.8% had high dental anxiety (MDAS scores of ≥19), and this increased to 18.1% on the treatment appointment day. Conclusion: Dental appointments appear to be associated with impact on anxiety levels. MDAS can be used as a screening tool to identify anxious patients to determine which treatment approach to adopt and possibly give shorter appointments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]