Document Type

Capstone Experience

Graduation Date

12-2022

Degree Name

Master of Public Health

Department

Epidemiology

First Committee Member

Kendra L. Ratnapradipa, PhD

Second Committee Member

Hongying (Daisy) Dai, PhD

Third Committee Member

Tzeyu Michaud, PhD

Abstract

E-cigarettes are the most used tobacco products among middle/high school students. Youth e-cigarette use is at an epidemic level. While school-based vaping prevention programs exist, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of such programs. To address vaping prevention among this vulnerable population, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) in collaboration with the Tobacco Education & Advocacy of the Midlands (TEAM) developed and implemented a school-based e-cigarette education curriculum, “TEAM No Vaping.” This study evaluated the impact of the “TEAM No Vaping” program on increasing the knowledge, harm perception, and susceptibility to e-cigarettes, and vaping media literacy for vaping prevention among middle and high school students. A pre- and post-test survey design was used to examine differences in students’ a) knowledge of e-cigarettes, b) harm perception of e-cigarettes, c) susceptibility to e-cigarettes use, and d) vaping media literacy. Ten schools from Nebraska and Iowa participated in the study, with 590 middle- and high-school students completing surveys before and after the program. The curriculum was found to be associated with increase in Tobacco21 (T21) knowledge (p<0.001), increase in harm perception of e-cigarettes use (p=0.001) and
increase in vaping media literacy (p<0.001). There was significant change in only one of three knowledge-based items (Most candy and fruit flavored e-cigarettes contain nicotine) (p<0.001). The study found no significant change in the susceptibility to e-cigarettes use (p=0.36) before and after participation in the program. TEAM No Vaping has a potential to be a useful educational tool in the prevention of youth e-cigarettes use. Future research is needed to determine its long-term impact in curbing youth vaping behavior.

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