Perceptions and practices of UK GPs towards youth vaping: a questionnaire-based study

E-cigarette use among adolescents and young adults is a growing public health concern. GPs play a critical role in addressing health behaviours, yet there is limited research on their perceptions and practices towards vaping in young people.

To explore current perceptions and practices among GPs concerning vaping in young people.

A quantitative approach was employed through an online, self-administered questionnaire. Responders included both trainee and qualified GPs from across the UK.

The questionnaire consisted of Likert-scale and free-text questions, covering screening, counselling, and demographic information. Participants were recruited through newsletters and social media, with 284 responses collected from March 2024 to August 2024. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to assess for significant differences based on responders' region of work or level of experience.

GPs rarely enquire about e-cigarette use (23.9%), despite 85.6% believing it is important to do so. Lack of time, relevance to the presenting complaint, and method for quantifying and documentation were cited as factors contributing to low screening rates. Only 27.5% of GPs provide advice to e-cigarette users, likely owing to low rates of confidence (12.3%). A lack of time, understanding of health effects, training, and availability of referral services were cited as factors contributing to low counselling rates. There were no significant variations in responses based on responders' location or level of experience.

GPs recognise the importance of youth vaping but face barriers to screening and counselling, indicating the need for change in guidelines and policy.