Vaping Education: A Two-Year Study Examining Health Literacy and Behaviors in a Southeastern State

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Adolescent Health
• Tobacco Control

Background:

• Electronic nicotine delivery systems (vapes) are the most prevalent nicotine products among U.S. adolescents.
• Youth vaping usage rates saw a significant increase between 2017 and 2019.
• School-based prevention programs are essential for addressing the youth vaping epidemic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a two-year school-based vaping prevention program.
• To assess the impact of the program on adolescent knowledge of vaping risks and vaping frequency.
• To analyze the relationship between knowledge acquisition and vaping behavior in youth.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective pre/post survey design.
• Program implemented in-person and online across two years in a southeastern U.S. state.
• Data collected from 4252 youths in Year 1 (rural counties) and 1347 youths in Year 2 (rural and urban counties).

Main Results:

• Significant post-program increases in adolescent knowledge about vaping risks were observed.
• Year 1 data showed a negative relationship between e-cigarette knowledge and vaping frequency, but this was not replicated in Year 2.
• Pre-program knowledge did not predict vaping frequency, and post-program knowledge did not influence frequency in youths who had already started vaping.

Conclusions:

• Vaping prevention education outcomes among adolescents are mixed.
• Increased knowledge about vaping risks does not automatically translate to reduced vaping frequency, especially for established vapers.
• Further research is needed to refine school-based strategies for effective youth vaping prevention.