Presentations

Abstract

Introduction:

Previous studies have revealed that youth-serving stakeholders, including health providers, educators, and parents, face challenges in possessing the necessary knowledge and resources to effectively address adolescents who are either vulnerable to or currently involved in e-cigarette usage. Despite the existence of evidence-based resources, their utilization remains restricted. The objective of this qualitative study is to interview youth-serving stakeholders, and through thematic analysis coding, collect and evaluate the appropriateness of various nicotine prevention and cessation resources.

Methods:

Stakeholder interviews (N=25) were conducted with youth-serving professionals (e.g., public middle and high school guidance counselors, health and PE teachers, nurses, administrative staff) working in the Hampton Roads community to understand specific concerns, barriers, and thoughts on the appropriateness of nicotine prevention and/or cessation resources using 3 example vignettes containing individuals of differing risk classifications. Transcripts from stakeholder interviews were imported into NVIVO 12 for qualitative analysis, and major themes were identified using a thematic analysis framework. Subsequently, an inductive coding process identified common codes and subthemes.

Results:

Most participants (24 stakeholders) identified barriers and had concerns about the prevention/cessation resources contained within the clinical vignettes. Most commonly, participants (22 stakeholders) cited a lack of incentivization to complete nicotine prevention/cessation resources among adolescents as a major concern. We identified 9 specific barriers and concerns including a lack of access to technology (e.g., lack of cellular device access for nicotine cessation program that messages participants with information about vaping cessation and social support), the need for stronger cessation resources (e.g., text messaging cessation program coupled with in-person counseling), social and peer influence, and family and parental involvement. In addition to these findings, stakeholder interviews revealed the lack of nicotine prevention/cessation resources that currently exist for adolescents. Participants highlighted current school policy disciplinary nature (most commonly school suspension) for adolescents caught vaping.

Conclusion:

Our findings reaffirm the need to identify and develop tailored resources to assist youth- serving professionals in better supporting teens with differing prevention/cessation needs. Stakeholder input identified appropriate resources to match with different risk tiers, as well as appropriate implementation outcomes that ultimately decrease the use of e-cigarettes in adolescents.