Youth generated prevention messages about electronic cigarettes

Health Educ Res. 2019 Apr 1;34(2):247-256. doi: 10.1093/her/cyz001.

Abstract

Rates of e-cigarette use are high among youth, and there is little known about the long-term health effects of e-cigarettes. Since peer influence is a powerful determinant of tobacco use, we aimed to identify message themes about e-cigarettes that youth would use to encourage or discourage peers from using e-cigarettes. We conducted 10 focus groups (N = 69) with non-smokers and smokers from one middle school, high school and college in Connecticut. Participants engaged in a discussion about e-cigarettes, and each participant created one written message to encourage e-cigarette use and one to discourage use among peers. We content-analyzed the messages and identified three main themes and 12 encouraging and discouraging sub-themes. Encouraging themes included health benefits of e-cigarettes relative to cigarettes, attractive product characteristics (e.g. flavors) and social advantages (e.g. positive social image) of using e-cigarettes. Discouraging messages included health risks of e-cigarettes relative to cigarettes, unattractive product characteristics (e.g. cost) and social disadvantages (e.g. negative social image of using an e-cigarette). Overall, there were no differences by sex, age group or smoking status in generation of encouraging and discouraging message themes. This study identified youth-generated themes that may aid in e-cigarette prevention among youth.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Cigarette Smoking / prevention & control
  • Connecticut
  • Female
  • Flavoring Agents
  • Focus Groups
  • Health Communication / methods*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Peer Group
  • Social Environment
  • Vaping / prevention & control*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Flavoring Agents