Vaping rates continue to rise among young adults warranting the need for campus interventions and policy developments. Some research has focused on three core concepts of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP). The current study uses the KAP approach to look at how college students describe their vaping knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding pod devices.
To complete the study, a focus group was recruited of undergraduate students at a Midwestern university. There were 8 focus groups with 26 participants that included e-cigarette, occasional users, and nonusers. The session was 90 minutes long and included the consenting and debriefing process. Knowledge was assessed by asking the focus group participants questions such as “Tell me a bit about what you know about e-cigarettes or vaping.” Knowledge about pod devices was assessed by passing around a JUUL and other older devices. They then asked participants if they had heard of the brands and what they tout of them. Health risk knowledge was also assessed. Attitudes were assessed by asking participants about their feelings towards the devices. Finally, practice was assessed by asking participants how students use the products along with why and if they thought they could control use if they tried it.
Results showed that participants were aware of the potential addiction to pod devices and also were concerned about the expenses of using them. Overall, the participants reported mostly uncertainty about future health risks of using the pod devices. The attitudes towards vaping included that casual, social use was cool and solitary, everyday use was not cool. Pod use was described as a social connector, an addictive practice, difficult to discontinue pod device use. Having this better understanding of knowledge, attitude, and practice of vaping allows for better prevention and intervention efforts on college campuses.
Take Away: The current study uses the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) approach to look at how college students describe their vaping knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding pod devices. To complete the study, 8 focus groups of students were created with 26 participants that included e-cigarette, occasional users, and nonusers. Overall knowledge, knowledge about pod devices, health risk knowledge, attitudes, and practice were all assessed by asking participants various questions. Results showed participants were aware of potential addiction to pod devices and reported mostly uncertainty about future health risks. The attitudes towards vaping included casual, social use was cool and solitary, everyday use was not cool. Pod use was described as a social connector, an addictive practice, difficult to discontinue pod device use. Having this better understanding of knowledge, attitude, and practice of vaping allows for better prevention and intervention efforts on college campuses.