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Impact of e-cigarette prevention messages on adolescents

Award Number: R01DA049155
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 06/01/2020
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2026

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Impact of e-cigarette prevention messages on adolescents - Project Summary/Abstract While significant progress has been made in reducing cigarette smoking among adolescents, the advent of electronic cigarettes and vaping devices threatens to undo this progress. While e-cigarettes have potential as harm reduction tools for adult smokers, they have become the most commonly-used tobacco product among adolescents. In 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declared e-cigarette use among adolescents an “epidemic” after observing dramatic increases in usage among this population since 2017. Evidence-based health communication approaches can strengthen young people’s commitment to avoid vaping, and thus prevent e-cigarette use and nicotine addiction. However, little research exists to provide a basis for effective communication efforts for e-cigarette prevention. We propose 3 Aims to significantly advance the science of how to communicate about e-cigarettes in ways that prevent use. For Aim 1, we will identify promising ways to communicate with adolescents to prevent e-cigarette use. We will achieve this by: 1) identifying promising prevention message themes (i.e., industry targeting, social norms, addiction) targeted to adolescents (ages 13- 17); 2) vetting these themes with the study team, expert consultants, and a teen advisory panel; and 3) conducting focus groups to examine adolescents’ responses to the e-cigarette prevention message themes. For Aim 2, we will develop a set of e-cigarette prevention messages that reduce adolescents’ inclination to try or use e-cigarettes. We will achieve this by: 1) developing 10 e-cigarette prevention messages based on the chosen theme(s) from Aim 1 and conducting 30 cognitive interviews to refine the messages; and 2) conducting a nationally representative study to examine the perceived effectiveness of the e-cigarette prevention messages in discouraging e-cigarette use. Based on the results, we will select 5 messages to carry forward to Aim 3’s randomized controlled trial (RCT). For Aim 3, we will evaluate whether evidence-based e-cigarette prevention messages reduce at-risk adolescents’ willingness to use e-cigarettes (primary outcome) and e- cigarette use behavior (secondary outcome). We will conduct a 2-arm (intervention, attention control), 3-week RCT with 506 adolescents, with a 3-month follow up. Study participants will receive daily messages sent to their mobile phones via text message (i.e., multimedia message service) for 20 days. Other secondary outcomes are cognitive elaboration, negative affect, e-cigarette beliefs, and social interactions. We will also examine whether e-cigarette prevention messages have unintended consequences (i.e., increasing willingness to smoke cigarettes). This research is responsive to funding announcement PAR-18-847, which seeks population-based, applied prevention research on e-cigarettes among vulnerable populations (e.g., youth). Our work will address a critical gap in tobacco control research by developing effective communications that strengthen adolescents’ commitment to avoid e-cigarettes and reduce e-cigarette use, thereby informing local, state, and national efforts to prevent e-cigarette use and nicotine addiction among adolescents.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2025	2024	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL	104 AIRPORT DR STE 2200	CHAPEL HILL	NC	27599	ORANGE	USA	Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act Regulatory Research	001	5	3/27/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2025	2024	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL	104 AIRPORT DR STE 2200	CHAPEL HILL	NC	27599	ORANGE	USA	Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act Regulatory Research	000	5	11/7/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2025	2024	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL	104 AIRPORT DR STE 2200	CHAPEL HILL	NC	27599	ORANGE	USA	Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act Regulatory Research	002	5	4/2/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $666,154 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL	104 AIRPORT DR STE 2200	CHAPEL HILL	NC	27599	ORANGE	USA	Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act Regulatory Research	000	5	5/9/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$666,154
														Subtotal = $666,154

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $679,264 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL	104 AIRPORT DR STE 2200	CHAPEL HILL	NC	27599	ORANGE	USA	Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act Regulatory Research	001	4	5/12/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$679,264
2023	2022	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL	104 AIRPORT DR STE 2200	CHAPEL HILL	NC	27599	ORANGE	USA	Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act Regulatory Research	000	3	3/8/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $679,264

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $684,800 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL	104 AIRPORT DR STE 2200	CHAPEL HILL	NC	27599	ORANGE	USA	Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act Regulatory Research	001	3	5/23/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$684,800
2022	2021	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL	104 AIRPORT DR STE 2200	CHAPEL HILL	NC	27599	ORANGE	USA	Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act Regulatory Research	000	2	11/4/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $684,800

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $686,660 )
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL	104 AIRPORT DR STE 2200	CHAPEL HILL	NC	27599	ORANGE	USA	Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act Regulatory Research	000	2	6/2/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$686,660
														Subtotal = $686,660

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $637,702 )
2020	2020	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL	104 AIRPORT DR STE 2200	CHAPEL HILL	NC	27599	ORANGE	USA	Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act Regulatory Research	000	1	5/27/2020	NEW	$637,702
2020	2020	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL	104 AIRPORT DR STE 2200	CHAPEL HILL	NC	27599	ORANGE	USA	Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act Regulatory Research	002	1	7/9/2020	NEW	$0
2020	2020	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL	104 AIRPORT DR STE 2200	CHAPEL HILL	NC	27599	ORANGE	USA	Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act Regulatory Research	001	1	6/4/2020	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $637,702

Grand Total All Awards = $3,354,580

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Impact of e-cigarette prevention messages on adolescents

Award Number: R01DA049155

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 06/01/2020

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2026

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