Effective interventions to prevent youth vaping behaviours: a rapid review

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Behavioral Science
• Adolescent Health

Background:

• Youth vaping remains a significant public health concern.
• Effective strategies are needed to prevent initiation and reduce vaping behaviors among adolescents.
• Understanding intervention effectiveness across different intrusiveness levels and subpopulations is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review policies and non-policy interventions aimed at preventing youth vaping behavior initiation.
• To assess the effectiveness of these interventions based on their intrusiveness and impact on specific subpopulations.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations for youth vaping prevention.

Main Methods:

• A systematic rapid review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
• Searches conducted on MEDLINE and APA-PsycINFO for studies published between January 2019 and November 2023.
• Included observational, intervention, or mixed-method studies and quantitative systematic reviews/meta-analyses focusing on youth aged 6-18.

Main Results:

• Twenty studies were included, with a majority from the USA and focusing on non-policy interventions.
• Interventions showed positive effects on youth vaping behaviors, though the certainty of evidence was generally low.
• Effectiveness varied by outcome and intrusiveness level; younger youth appeared less responsive.

Conclusions:

• Combining multiple interventions targeting different levels of intrusiveness and outcomes may enhance effectiveness in preventing youth vaping.
• Tailoring prevention programs to the specific needs of younger adolescents is recommended.
• Further research with higher certainty of evidence is warranted.