In:
Health Education Journal, SAGE Publications, Vol. 81, No. 7 ( 2022-11), p. 891-900
Abstract:
E-cigarette prevention education aims to mitigate adolescent e-cigarette use. Such education is increasingly delivered through virtual/video-based teaching platforms (e.g. Zoom, Google Classrooms). However, there is little evidence about the effectiveness of virtual e-cigarette education compared to in-person education on adolescents’ knowledge about e-cigarettes, perceived addictiveness and intent to try e-cigarettes, cigarettes, and marijuana. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of virtual e-cigarette education compared to in-person education on student knowledge and perceived addictiveness of e-cigarettes and intent to try e-cigarettes. Design, Setting and Method: We conducted a pre- and post-education evaluation among 10 middle and high school students in the Greater Birmingham area, Alabama, who were non-randomly assigned to receive either virtual ( n = 745) or in-person e-cigarette education ( n = 286) (mean age: 14.36 years). The study used a 25-minute educational presentation about the health effects of e-cigarettes, the risks of second- and third-hand smoke, the addictive nature of nicotine, and marketing strategies of e-cigarette companies. Participants completed a 10-minute self-administered survey immediately before and after the presentation. Results and conclusion: Except for certain e-cigarette knowledge-related items, our study shows that both virtual and in-person education had similar effects on improving knowledge about e-cigarettes, increasing perceived addictiveness and reducing intent to try e-cigarettes, cigarettes and marijuana among participants. Virtual education may be applied where in-person education is not feasible (e.g. in rural communities).
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0017-8969
,
1748-8176
DOI:
10.1177/00178969221119287
Language:
English
Publisher:
SAGE Publications
Publication Date:
2022
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2233563-8
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