A Quality Improvement Project to Increase Adolescent Vaping Capture and Provider Awareness of Use

Background: Adolescent vaping has dramatically increased, causes adverse health outcomes, and is considered a priority public health concern. Current screening is not age-appropriate, poorly captures vaping use, and inadequately prompts the provider, reducing awareness of use. Objective: The aim of the study is to improve adolescent vaping capture and increase provider awareness of use by implementing an age-appropriate screening tool. Methods: A quality improvement project was completed by utilizing the Plan-Do-Study-Act model, implementing the Hooked on Nicotine Checklist for Vaping (HONCV) screening, and then comparing those capture results to the current electronic health record (EHR) screening. Provider awareness was measured using pre- and postimplementation surveys. Results: A statistically significant difference in vaping capture was found after implementing the HONCV tool, p < .001, with an overall 10% increase in vaping capture. Provider awareness of adolescent vaping use as a direct result of the HONCV screening also significantly increased, p = .012. Conclusions: The HONCV screening tool is a more effective way of capturing adolescent vaping use and awareness by the provider of use than the current EHR screening. Implications for Nursing: Nursing can be instrumental in advocating for implementing the HONCV within the EHR to meet recommended practice standards for adolescent screening.