E-Cigarette Use Among Adolescents: Study Finds Efficacy of Vape Counseling in Pediatric Practices

E-cigarette use, commonly known as vaping, has become a significant concern among adolescents. According to a new study, one out of every 29 middle school students and one out of every 13 high school students vapes daily. The research aimed to increase vape screening and prevention education in youth visits at pediatric practices, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of provider training and resources in addressing this issue. Financial support for this project came from the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth.

Key Takeaways:

• The study found that 3.5% of middle school students and 7.8% of high school students vape daily, making e-cigarettes the most common form of tobacco use among adolescents.
• A provider training and resource modules, including talking points, billing codes, and shareable parent/teen-tailored resources, were developed to increase provider comfort with the topic of vaping.
• Key-informant interviews with 20 healthcare providers identified barriers to providing vape prevention counseling, including lack of knowledge, lack of resources, discomfort with the topic, and patient resistance.
• Reported barriers to providing vape prevention counseling were significantly reduced after participation in the provider training and resource programs.
• The frequency of providing vaping information in pediatric practices increased, with 50% of physicians reporting that they often or always provide vape prevention information during a visit.
• Average resources provided to prevent vaping increased from 1 to 94 per month.
• Tailored provider-training and resources increased physician knowledge of and confidence with the topic of vaping, as well as the frequency of screening and preventive guidance provided to teens and their families.

Statistics:

• 3.5% of middle school students vape daily.
• 7.8% of high school students vape daily.
• 32 healthcare providers completed an anonymous pre-post survey regarding their knowledge, comfort levels, barriers, and practices related to teen vaping.
• 20 key-informant interviews were conducted to identify barriers and seek solutions to incorporate risk counseling into daily practice.
• 50% of physicians reported that they often or always provide vape prevention information during a visit.
• Average resources provided to prevent vaping increased from 1 to 94 per month.

Sources:

• Vape Counseling at Pediatric Practices: The Rethink Vape Toolkit. Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions, 2025.
• Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Two Commerce Sq, 2001 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA.
• Ann L. Edwards, Dr. Harrell, Natasha K. Sriraman, Rebecca J. Slimak, Anisha S. Vanka, Amy C. Paulson, and Kelli J. England.