Educators’ perceptions of e-cigarettes in Australian secondary schools

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Secondary schools are a setting in which e-cigarette use among students has increased significantly, resulting in an urgent need for educators to develop and implement strategies to curb youth vaping. Research assessing school-based vaping prevention efforts is limited and largely confined to the US. This study assessed Australian secondary school staff members' experiences with e-cigarettes and explored (i) the presence of e-cigarette policies and educational programs, (ii) barriers to policy development and implementation, and (iii) desired support. METHODS Public, Catholic, and Independent secondary schools across Australia were sent an invitation to participate in this study, which involved completion of an online survey. A total of 218 school staff members (55% women) participated. Respondents included school principals, teachers, and other staff members. Data collection occurred May to September 2022. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. RESULTS Nearly half (46%) of all school staff members surveyed reported finding a student with an e-cigarette on campus at least monthly, and one-third (36%) of principals reported suspending or expelling students at least monthly for e-cigarette possession or use. The vast majority of those surveyed agreed that e-cigarette use is increasingly becoming a problem in secondary schools (93%) and reported being concerned about e-cigarette use by students (94%). Only half (51%) reported that their school had an e-cigarette policy in place. The discreet appearance of e-cigarettes (83%) and difficulties pinpointing from where the vapor/scent is coming (73%) were the most frequently reported barriers to policy enforcement. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study suggest that e-cigarettes present a threat to secondary school environments. There is an urgent need to develop, implement, and enforce both school-and government-level e-cigarette policies to prevent and reduce youth vaping in Australian secondary schools.

Socio-ecological factors that influence youth vaping: perspectives from Western Australian school professionals, parents and young people

“…A lack of accurate and consistent communication regarding e-cigarettes within families and educational institutions can lead to discernible disparities in young peoples’ vaping comprehension, in contrast to tobacco smoking where the curriculum is established, and the associated risks are well-documented (Brown et al, 2020 ). The identification of considerable knowledge gaps among parents and educators highlights the need for e-cigarette information to help safeguard young Australians from establishing detrimental behaviours during their developmental years (Jongenelis & Robinson, 2023 ).…”

“…Although the evidence of the harms associated with vaping is well documented (Banks et al, 2023 ), Australian adolescents’ perceptions of e-cigarette harms are scantily reported, with a recent systematic review on e-cigarette health perceptions among adolescents in various countries highlighting the considerable lack of data from Australia (Sharma et al, 2021 ). Moreover, Australian parents (Measey et al, 2023 ) and school professionals’ (Jongenelis & Robinson, 2023 ; Pettigrew et al, 2022 ) perceptions of e-cigarettes are even less well-documented. This study, therefore, aimed to understand from the perspectives of school professionals, parents and young people the socio-ecological factors that may facilitate and prevent e-cigarette use among young people in Perth, Western Australia.…”

“I just wish vaping wasn’t a thing”: a qualitative study of parental concerns and attitudes towards adolescent vaping.

“…Community factors, such as schools and neighbourhoods, can facilitate the endorsement and normalisation of vaping behaviours. Numerous studies have reported that vaping in high schools has become commonplace for young people [6][7][8][9] and reinforce acceptability of use [10]. For example, students who observe their peers vaping on school premises have increased susceptibility to vape [8].…”

Unpacking vaping in schools: Voices from the school community

“…Research findings from secondary schools internationally highlight a significant rise in student vaping over the last decade (Creamer et al, 2020;Jongenelis and Robinson, 2023;NHS Digital, 2022). The school environment can influence the establishment of adolescent health behaviours, including exposure to and the uptake of vaping (Bonell et al, 2013;Ennett et al, 2010;Lippert, 2018).…”