Parent perspectives on a pharmacist-disseminated vaping educational tool for vaping prevention

Abstract

Background

Adolescent e-cigarette use is a major public health issue which can lead to respiratory damage and mental health problems. However, there is a lack of reliable educational resources for adolescents and parents. A vaping educational tool can educate parents about e-cigarettes and support discussions with their children. Pharmacists can leverage their accessibility to integrate educating families about vaping within their practice. This study aimed to explore parent perspectives on adolescent vaping, a pharmacist-led vaping educational tool, and pharmacists' potential role in vaping intervention and prevention.

Methods

Parents of adolescents were recruited for virtual semi-structured interviews on vaping knowledge, opinions on pharmacist vaping intervention, and feedback on the Pharmacist-led E-cigarette and Vaping Educational Resource (pH-EVER). Interviews were analyzed on Dedoose software with inductive thematic analysis.

Results

Interviews from 46 parents led to five primary themes: vaping knowledge, exposure, and opinions; pH-EVER availability, feedback and usage; parental and school role in vaping intervention; receptiveness to learning about vaping; and pharmacist role in vaping intervention. Most participants expressed that they had limited vaping knowledge but were aware of some health consequences. Participants found the Ph-EVER to be useful for starting conversations with family. Many participants trusted and respected pharmacists to receive education from them. The Ph-EVER was described as important with potential use to inform and initiate conversations with adolescents on e-cigarette risks.

Conclusion

Parent participants found the Ph-EVER to be a helpful educational tool that can be disseminated in public settings with further need to explore integration into pharmacy practice.