Where college students look for vaping information and what information they believe.

OBJECTIVE: This convergent mixed methods study examined how information sources influence college students' beliefs and knowledge about vaping.

PARTICIPANTS: College students either completed a survey (n = 522; January-April, 2016) or were interviewed (n = 33; 2015-2016).

METHODS: College students completed an online survey asking 'where' students had heard about e-cigarette and 'what' they had heard. Responses were quantified and a chi-square analysis was conducted. Additional college student e-cigarette users were interviewed about the credibility of information sources. Thematic analysis was conducted with the coded interviews.

RESULTS: There was a significant relationship between information sources for e-cigarettes (social sources, media, advertising, education/research) and the messages they recalled. Friends who vaped and e-cigarette users were the most credible information sources. Confirmation bias and scientific impotence bias characterized assessment of e-cigarette information.

CONCLUSIONS: Health education specialists working on college campuses should provide accurate information via communication channels most unitized by college students.