Are Text-Message Based Programmes Targeting Adolescents and Their Parents an Acceptable Approach to Preventing Adolescent e-Cigarette Use?

Abstract

Issue Addressed

Increasing rates of e-cigarette use amongst adolescents has been identified as a public health concern, due to negative health effects and the association with an increased risk of tobacco use. Effective strategies to prevent e-cigarette uptake are required. Text-message programmes represent a potentially effective and cost-effective approach, that is also minimally invasive, but acceptability amongst adolescents and their parents is unclear. This study aims to explore adolescent and parental acceptability of a text-message programme designed to prevent adolescent e-cigarette use.

Methods

Adolescents (12–15 years) and their parents were recruited as part of a larger factorial randomised controlled trial (RCT). Participants allocated to the intervention conditions received a series of 12 text-messages addressing topics such as knowledge of harms, social norms, and refusal skills. At 6-month follow-up, participants answered four questions regarding the acceptability of the text-messages.

Results

In a sample of 30 adolescents and 35 parents, most parents agreed the messages were acceptable (94%) and would recommend them to peers (91%). Amongst adolescents, 77% agreed the messages were acceptable and 73% would recommend them to peers.

Conclusions

These preliminary findings suggest text-messages designed to prevent e-cigarette use are acceptable to adolescents and their parents and represent a promising prevention strategy. Effectiveness of the programme on outcomes such as e-cigarette use susceptibility will be explored through the RCT currently underway.

So What?

Text-messages aiming to prevent adolescents from using e-cigarettes represents an acceptable intervention for both adolescents and their parents, but effectiveness still needs to be established.