Paediatricians' Support for Adolescent Vaping Cessation in Australia: A National Cross-Sectional Study

Adolescent vaping is rising globally and in Australia, and evidence on paediatricians' cessation support is scarce. This study examined predictors of paediatricians' engagement in vaping cessation among adolescents, focusing on disparities in knowledge, attitudes, practices and barriers across various sociodemographic and professional factors.

A nationwide cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted among paediatricians and paediatric registrars practising across Australia between May and October 2023. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire on demographics, knowledge, attitudes and barriers (28-item Likert scale) and practices adapted from the WHO 5A framework. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to investigate the association.

A total of 90 paediatricians participated, of whom 67.5% were female and 78.8% practised in metropolitan areas. A vast majority (90%) recognised its addictive nature and nearly all (97.7%) of them viewed vaping among adolescents as a gateway to tobacco and other substance use. Only one in three were aware of referral options for cessation, over two-thirds routinely advised against vaping, one in five provided cessation support and one-third arranged follow-up care. Some variation was observed by age and gender; however, evidence of systematic differences by geographic location or primary medical training was limited after adjustment. Senior paediatricians were more likely to recognise EVALI symptoms and less likely to report time constraints. Key barriers included limited referral knowledge, insufficient time and discomfort, which significantly impeded engagement.

Although paediatricians recognised vaping as a major concern, their support rarely extended to routine cessation care, demonstrating the need for clearer referral pathways and targeted training.