"Predictors of Adolescents’ Transition Through the Stages of Change for" by Nikhil Ahuja, Satish Kedia et al.
 

Predictors of Adolescents’ Transition Through the Stages of Change for Quitting E-Cigarettes: Findings From the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study

Abstract

Purpose: To identify predictive factors associated with US adolescents’ transition through the stages of change for potentially quitting e-cigarettes using the Trans-theoretical model of behavior change. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: United States. Subjects: We utilized data from adolescents (12-17 years) in Wave 3 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study who used e-cigarettes exclusively over the past 30 days (n = 177) and were followed up with in Wave 4. Measures: Outcome variables were 3 transition categories: those who remained stagnant, those who progressed, and those who regressed in their stage of quitting e-cigarettes. Predictor variables were socio-demographics, e-cigarette harm perception, e-cigarette use at home or by important people, social norms, e-cigarette and anti-tobacco advertisements, and e-cigarette health warnings. Analysis: Weighted-adjusted multinomial regression analysis was performed to determine the association between predictor and outcome variables. Results: From Wave 3 to Wave 4, 19% of adolescents remained stagnant; 73.3% progressed; and 7.7% regressed. Adolescents were less likely to progress in their stage of change if they perceived nicotine in e-cigarettes to be “not at all/slightly harmful” (AOR =.26 [95% CI:.25,.27], P <.001); reported important people’s use of e-cigarettes (AOR =.18 [95% CI:.05,.65, P =.009); and “rarely” noticed e-cigarette health warnings (AOR =.28 [95% CI:.08,.98, P =.054). Conclusion: Intervention efforts must target specific predictive factors that may help adolescents quit e-cigarettes.

Publication Title

American Journal of Health Promotion

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