标题：Original quantitative research – Analysis of the geographical accessibility of vape shops in the vicinity of Quebec’s secondary and college educational institutions
摘要：Introduction: A significant proportion of secondary school students and young adults
in Quebec have experimented with electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). Both personal
and environmental factors have been associated with the use of vaping products by
youth. Geographical accessibility to the points of sale of these products may be one of
these factors. The purpose of this study is to develop a profile of the spatial distribution
of stores specializing in the sale of vaping products (vape shops) in the vicinity of secondary
schools, colleges and CEGEPs in the province of Quebec.
Methods: We calculated the accessibility of businesses to account for geographical
exposure. Analyses were conducted to provide a snapshot of the situation in Quebec
and to identify associations between the characteristics of educational institutions and
geographical accessibility to vape shops.
Results: A total of 299 vape shops were identified. Colleges are closer to a vape shop
(median distance: 1.2 km) than are secondary schools (median distance: 2.3 km). Large
private colleges located in urban areas are closer to specialized vape shops. Medium or
large private secondary schools located in urban and more advantaged areas are also
closer to a specialized vape shop.
Conclusion: This study is a step in developing an understanding of the location of vaping
product shops and their geographical accessibility to young people. Important to
consider is the geographical accessibility of young people to non-specialized shops that
also sell e-cigarettes and then any potential connections between geographical accessibility
to such non-specialized shops and the use of vaping products by young people.
