Perceptions of Secondary School Faculty about Vaping Behaviour in Secondary School Students: A qualitative analysis in Muscat, Oman.

Objectives: The World Health Organization has reported concerns around the increase in vaping behaviour in adolescents. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of the faculty of secondary public schools in Muscat regarding: (a) reasons for vaping among students, (b) impact of this behaviour on school/class dynamics and families and (c) effective interventions within and beyond schools.

Methods: This qualitative study held 4 focus groups among secondary school faculty at 4 secondary public schools in the areas of A'Seeb, Al Amarat, Bausher and Muscat in Oman from February to March 2023. Discussions were transcribed verbatim, anonymised and thematically analysed.

Results: A total of 40 faculty members were included in this study. All participants expressed concern about the increase in vaping in students. There were 3 factors that emerged as driving forces behind this behaviour: (a) the perception that vaping is less harmful than traditional cigarettes, (b) inadequate support to prevent/control vaping and (c) the wide availability of various shapes and forms of vapes. The impacts of vaping were reported as negative manifestations in classrooms, disruptions in student-teacher relationships and undesirable consequences on families and society. Suggested interventions to prevent/control vaping in schools were themed around enforcing the national anti-tobacco policies and regulations, adapting a multi-sectoral approach within interventions against vaping, enhancing capacity-building anti-vaping activities and integrating social media in anti-vaping campaigns. Additionally, active involvement of the community including religious leaders, was deemed essential to effectively address vaping among school students.

Conclusion: Addressing vaping among school students requires a collaborative approach. Recommendations from this study include translating national anti-tobacco policies into practice through a multi-level and comprehensive strategy that involves schools, families and the broader community.