Exploring the cross-sectional association between the strength of school vaping policies and student vaping behaviours using data from the 2021–2022 COMPASS Study

Abstract

Objectives Youth vaping is a concern in Canada. While school-level policies influence student behaviours, few studies have investigated the association between school vaping policies and student vaping. This study reviewed and scored the comprehensiveness of school vaping policies and investigated the association between school vaping policy scores and student vaping. Methods Online policy documents from n = 39 schools in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia, Canada, participating in the 2021–2022 wave of the COMPASS study were collected, reviewed, and scored for comprehensiveness (/39) using the School Tobacco Policy Index (STPI) rating form. The mean and range of scores for each domain of the STPI were calculated. School policy scores were linked to student vaping data from the COMPASS study. Multilevel logistic regression analyses identified the association between school vaping policy score and student lifetime and current (past 30-day) vaping. Results The mean total policy score was 10.2/39 (range 0‒24), and 28% of schools scored 0/39. The majority of school policies did not identify enforcement approaches or available preventive or cessation resources. Increasing STPI score was not associated with the odds of student lifetime or current vaping in multilevel logistic regression analyses. Conclusion The STPI quickly identified components of school vaping policies that were missing. The overall score of most school vaping policies in our sample was low and most school vaping policies lacked many important components. Future studies should explore factors associated with adolescent vaping and identify effective prevention measures.