Exploring Vaping Cessation App Use Among Youth: Qualitative Descriptive Study

Youth vaping has become a significant public health concern, with high rates of initiation, nicotine dependence, and a tendency to underestimate vaping-related harms. Although many youth attempt to quit, most do so without formal support, and few report leveraging cessation apps. Mobile health tools have potential as accessible youth-oriented supports; yet, little is known about youth experiences with these interventions.

This study aims to explore Canadian youth perceptions and experiences of vaping cessation mobile apps, focusing on preferences, perceived utility, and recommendations for improvement.

A qualitative descriptive design guided by a constructivist paradigm was used. Overall, 17 semistructured interviews were conducted with youth aged 16-24 years from British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec in fall 2022. Eligible participants had current or past vaping experience, had attempted or wanted to quit, and had used a cessation app. Data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed inductively using reflexive thematic analysis, with reflexivity supported through team-based coding and iterative discussions.

Three themes described youth experiences. "Quitting on my Own Terms" reflected the importance of individual agency and commitment to quitting. While there were varied views on apps supporting their agency with cessation, the youth agreed that intrinsic motivation was the most critical element in their cessation journey. "Parallel Experiences- Differing Views on Community" captured ambivalence toward in-app social features: while some valued peer support, others preferred to quit privately or used broader online platforms, like Reddit. "Pocket-sized Partners in Cessation" highlighted the usefulness of quick access to features, such as progress tracking, motivational reinforcement, and gamification, as they engaged in the various stages of quitting (from contemplation through to commitment). However, participants stressed that the convenience of an app was not enough. Youth emphasized the need for apps that feel authentic, emotionally resonate, and are capable of balancing independence with opportunities for connection to social support.

Youth want cessation apps that function as companions to help them leverage their motivation and efforts to quit, rather than as passive trackers. Effective app-based interventions should validate autonomy, account for nonlinear cessation journeys and relapses, and integrate supportive, interactive, and youth-friendly features. By addressing the preferences of youth in the design of vaping cessation apps, digital cessation tools can move beyond convenience to become meaningful companions in youths' efforts to quit vaping.