17 - E-cigarette Use and Effectiveness of Multimedia Cessation Tools in Adolescents

Purpose: E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices, often used as a cigarette alternative. This research uses patient and provider surveys to explore e-cigarette use, social factors influencing use, effects on systemic health, the role of healthcare providers in addressing use, and strategies for cessation among adolescents and young adults.

Methods: A pre- and post-educational questionnaire, and an educational video and factsheet were developed from literature review. Questionnaire items include the social, psychological, and environmental factors leading to e-cigarette use and access to e-cigarettes; openness to cessation and post-video knowledge of risks of use; and education and preparedness of providers to discuss cessation. Patients, non-users and admitted users, aged 12-24 were presented with the pre-questionnaire, video, and post-questionnaire; medical and dental providers were presented with the pre-questionnaire, fact sheet, and post-questionnaire.

Results: 70 providers (mean age 45) and 30 patients (mean age 18) were surveyed. The data was analyzed through a frequency-based approach, systematically quantifying the occurrence of each response selected in the survey to identify patterns and trends. Admitted users, demonstrated improvement in knowledge of risks and openness to cessation after intervention. Provider education on e-cigarettes significantly correlated to year of graduation; still, only 5.41% of providers felt very well prepared in providing cessation counseling.

Conclusion: E-cigarette use in adolescents and young adults is multifactorial, including both psychosocial influences and safety misconceptions. Targeted interventions need to focus on the health risks of use. Provider education needs to be continual, including cessation counseling. Systemic and oral health professionals play a key role in e-cigarette reduction.

Identify Supporting Agency and Grant Number: Research supported by the HRSA-COE funding (D34HP00002).