Teens Talk Vaping: A co-produced participatory study exploring teens' reflections on vaping experiences and exposures in their everyday environments

• Main Authors: Stephanie E. Coen (Author), Kendra Nelson Ferguson (Author), Shauna M. Burke (Author), Timothy-Jireh E. Dela Cruz (Author), Laila Girum (Author), Gabriela I. Guisandes Bueno (Author), Rebecca Haines-Saah (Author), Tanya Iwas (Author), Bhargav Kandlakuti (Author), Aliana Manji (Author), Purushoth Megarajah (Author), Ricardo Soto Canales (Author), Terry Spencer (Author), Danielle Tobin (Author), Jason A. Gilliland (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Elsevier, 2023-12-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 2667-3215; 10.1016/j.ssmqr.2023.100367
• Keywords: Vaping; Youth; Participatory Research; Canada; Focus Groups; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270
• Source: SSM: Qualitative Research in Health, Vol 4, Iss , Pp 100367- (2023)

Abstract: Increasing prevalence of vaping (e-cigarette use) among youth in Canada and elsewhere has become a serious public health concern. The Teens Talk Vaping project sought to co-produce research about teen vaping with teens to generate in-depth qualitative evidence about the everyday socio-environmental dimensions of teen vaping experiences and exposures across perspectives of both teens who vape and those who do not. Our participatory approach included a capacity-building programme to train teen team members to contribute to the project as 'co-researchers', equipping them with the research skills necessary to contribute to all phases of the project, from data collection through to knowledge translation. Paired with adult researchers, teen co-researchers facilitated 7 online focus groups with teens (n=17) from across Canada, including teens who vaped (n=3) and those who did not (n=14). Our participatory thematic analysis generated five themes: (1) Secrecy and surveillance at school; (2) Online omnipresence; (3) Social pressures and positionings; (4) (Un)restricted mobilities and access; and (5) Re-thinking school-based vaping education. Our findings reveal the extent to which exposure to vaping is deeply embedded and normalized in the everyday micro-geographies of teens in Canada as seemingly 'everywhere.' Teen vaping prevention efforts must be equity-centred, youth-driven, and take account of the nuanced ways in which vaping is layered into the day-to-day online and offline contexts of young people's lives.