Journal article
Developing a targeted e-cigarette health communication campaign for college students
Addictive behaviors, Vol.117, pp.106841-106841
06/2021
DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.106841
PMID: 33588289
Abstract
•Focus groups provided insight into university e-cigarette campaign messaging.•Many participants did not view e-cigarette/nicotine addiction negatively.•Preferred messages included scientific evidence, young adult agency, and empowerment.•Partnering with university student services may increase e-cigarette campaign reach.
E-cigarette use among college students has increased over the last several years, however, there are few published studies on e-cigarette interventions designed to prevent the initiation and escalation of e-cigarette use and to empower cessation for this population.
We developed an e-cigarette health communication campaign for a large Midwestern university through collaboration between academic and student service departments. We conducted focus group discussions (7 groups; 4–25 per group; n = 98) to (a) understand the context of e-cigarette use on campus and (b) solicit feedback on sample messaging. We conducted thematic analysis using focus group notes and used findings to design final campaign messages and materials.
Six themes emerged: (a) vaping as a popular social activity, (b) progression to and perceptions of addiction, (c) cessation, (d) health effects and uncertainty, (e) intervention points, and (f) individual agency and message tone. Final campaign messages addressed the most salient points from the focus groups and were designed to increase the perceived susceptibility to and severity of risks of e-cigarette use and to increase perceived efficacy for quitting in accord with the Extended Parallel Processing Model (EPPM). Campaign messages and materials were integrated into wellness programming and disseminated across the university and community.
Our focus group discussions allowed campaign messages and materials to be tailored to college students. Collaborative approaches between academic and wellness programs can leverage scientific expertise and student services infrastructure to enhance programming on college campuses.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Developing a targeted e-cigarette health communication campaign for college students
- Creators
- Alejandra Escoto - Division of Child and Community Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United StatesShannon Lea Watkins - Department of Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United StatesTrisha Welter - Student Wellness, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United StatesSteph Beecher - Student Wellness, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Addictive behaviors, Vol.117, pp.106841-106841
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.106841
- PMID
- 33588289
- ISSN
- 0306-4603
- eISSN
- 1873-6327
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 06/2021
- Academic Unit
- Community and Behavioral Health
- Record Identifier
- 9984214681502771
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