Are you concerned about the rise in vaping amongst youth? Although vaping amongst youth can cause serious adverse health outcomes (e.g. lung injury, poisoning and burns), the number of youth trying vaping is continuing to rise.

The research team from the University of Newcastle are testing the use of a text-message program sent to parents and their child (aged 12-15 years) to prevent youth from taking up vapes.

Why is the research being done?

Although vaping amongst youth can cause serious adverse health outcomes (e.g. lung injury, poisoning and burns), the number of youth trying vaping is continuing to rise. The research team from the University of Newcastle are aiming to investigate if a text-message program sent to parents and adolescents to target barriers and enablers to adolescent vape use is an effective approach to prevent this behaviour.

The messages aim to:

• Educate youth and parents on the harms of vaping.
• Empower youth to say no to vapes through social support and teaching refusal skills.
• Facilitate healthy conversation amongst families.

Who can participate in the research trial?

• We are seeking parents/guardians and their child, aged between 12 and 15 years old to participate in this study together.
• Participants can be located anywhere in Australia.
• The study is open to youth who have never vaped or who currently vape.

What will study participants be asked to do?

Study participants will be randomly allocated into one of the four groups (similar to drawing a name out of a hat):

1. Adolescent text message group: Your child will receive the series of text messages (one per week for 12 weeks).
2. Parent text message group: Parents will receive the series of text messages (one per week for 12 weeks).
3. Parent and adolescent text message group: Both you and your child will receive the series of text messages.
4. Control group: You will receive a factsheet detailing the risks associated with vaping in youth. You and your child will receive the series of text messages at the end of the study period.

We will conduct short surveys with parents and adolescents at the following time points:

• Parents: at the beginning of the study and 6-months.
• Adolescents: at the beginning of the study and 6, 12 and 24-months.

You may or may not receive the text messages, but we kindly request that you complete the surveys regardless. Your participation in the study will provide us with invaluable information regarding approaches to prevent youth vaping.

Parents and adolescents will both receive a $20 e-gift card after completing each follow-up survey.  

How to participate

Visit the study website here for more information, Participant Information Statements and Consent Forms and to participate.

If you would like more information about the study, please contact:

Dr Courtney Barnes
E: [email protected]