Study Purpose/Description
The number of Australian youth taking up vaping (or e-cigarettes) is continuing to rise even though evidence has proven that vapes can cause adverse health effects (e.g. lung injury, poisoning, burns).
University of Newcastle researchers 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. The messages are evidence-based, and have been developed with researchers, parents and teenagers.
What’s Involved?
The study is conducted online and via phone, with no face-to-face participation required. Study participants will be randomly allocated into one of the four groups:
- Adolescent text message group: Your child will receive the series of text messages (one per week for 12 weeks).
- Parent text message group: Parents will receive the series of text messages (one per week for 12 weeks).
- Parent and adolescent text message group: Both you and your child will receive the series of text messages (one per week for 12 weeks).
- 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.
The research team will conduct brief surveys with parents and adolescents at the following times:
- Parents: at the beginning of the study and at 6 months follow-up.
- Adolescents: at the beginning of the study and at 6, 12, and 24 months follow-up.
Learn More:
If you are interested and think you may be eligible, you can learn more about the study and complete a screening survey at the Newcastle University website: https://www.vapingpreventionstudy.com/our-research.
