Date of Graduation
2020
Document Type
Problem/Project Report
Degree Type
DNP
College
School of Nursing
Committee Chair
Teresa Ritchie
Committee Member
Jill Cochran
Committee Member
Kesheng Wang
Committee Member
Gene Collins
Abstract
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), sixty deaths due to the use of electronic cigarettes or other vaping products have been reported to date. Vaping has become viewed as a safe alternative to traditional cigarette smoking, particularly in the adolescent population. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends education by primary care clinicians to prevent initiation of tobacco products among adolescents. In order to combat this health disparity in America’s youth, intervention by the nursing profession is necessary. An educational session and interactive game were implemented by a school-based family nurse practitioner in order to change the knowledge and attitudes of students regarding vaping in a rural West Virginia middle school. Data analysis revealed a statistically significant 15.8% decrease in adolescents who believe vaping is safer than smoking following intervention by the nurse practitioner. Results also determined a statistically significant 27.9% increase in students’ knowledge following the educational session and interactive game. Ongoing education by healthcare professionals is necessary to decrease the morbidity and mortality related to adolescent vaping.
Recommended Citation
Fitzwater, Holly F., "Evaluation of the Impact of an Educational Intervention Focused on Adolescent Vaping Among Rural Middle School Students" (2020). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 7592.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/7592