Evaluation of vaping cessation infographics among e-cigarette users: A cross-sectional, mixed-methods study

This rise in vaping has become a significant public health concern. This mixed-methods study aims to assess the impact of vaping cessation infographics on different cessation motivation and gather feedback regarding how the infographic could be further improved.

Current e-cigarette users completed an online cross-sectional survey in January 2022 through Prolific^®. Participants evaluated a vaping cessation infographic. Eligible participants were adults aged 19-64 years, US residents, fluent in English, and current e-cigarette users. Participants completed a questionnaire with questions regarding demographics, e-cigarette use, and assessment of the liking of infographics. Poisson regressions were conducted to assess the associations between infographic liking and perceived vaping cessation importance, readiness, and commitment. The open-ended feedback provided in the online survey on the infographic was assessed using content analysis.

Among 361 participants who were presented with the cessation infographic, 85.9% of them rated the infographic favorably. The liking of the cessation infographic (e.g. excellent vs fair/poor) was associated with greater perceived quit importance (incidence rate ratio, IRR=2.0, p<0001, quit commitment (IRR=1.6, p=0.005), and readiness to quit (IRR=1.9, p=0.001). The analysis of open-ended feedback resulted in several themes. Participants appreciated the detailed coping strategies, ease of understanding and accessibility, timelines and expectations, support and encouragement, comprehensive information, youth-focused content, and visual and structural appeals. Areas identified for improvement included health information and risks, design and presentation, target audience and content, support and resources, and user engagement.

This study highlights the need for tailored vaping cessation interventions. The infographic presented in this study resonated more with African American and Hispanic participants, who reported higher favorability than White participants.