Youth Tobacco Prevention: Are Doctors Talking to Youth About Tobacco?

Adolescent tobacco use prevention can prevent lifelong addiction. This study assesses adolescents' reports of tobacco discussions in the doctor's office setting.

Using 2023 Florida Youth Tobacco Survey, a statewide, anonymous, school-based survey (n = 3,898), the Rao-Scott chi-square test was used to examine whether the proportion of students who visited a doctor's office in the past 12 months and used electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), differed by demographic characteristics. We estimated adjusted odds ratios (aOR) using hierarchical logistic regression models with demographic variables and e-cigarette use to model whether students were told about the dangers of tobacco products in a doctor's office.

Of those who visited a doctor's office in the past year, 27.9% reported a medical provider talked to them about the dangers of tobacco products, compared to 13.1% in a dentist's office, and 63.1% parents/guardians. Females were more likely than males to report these discussions (30.8% vs. 25.1%; p = .003). Females (aOR = 1.28) and those who ever used e-cigarettes (aOR = 1.29) were more likely to be talked to about tobacco dangers. Females (aOR = 1.34) were more likely to discuss e-cigarettes. Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, and other race/ethnicities were less likely to discuss e-cigarettes compared to non-Hispanic White respondents.

Over one in four respondents who visited a doctor's office in the past year reported that a medical provider talked to them about the dangers of tobacco products. A lack of alignment exists between adolescent and physician reports of tobacco discussions. The process of screening and tobacco intervention in the clinical setting should be further assessed, particularly for effectiveness in messaging.