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Introduction Young adults (YA) are attempting to quit vaping, with many accessing smoking cessation programs with a lack of reported efficacy, highlighting the need for targeted vaping cessation support. Young people report seeing health professionals (HPs) as potential sources of support in the quitting process. Additionally, the current changing regulatory landscape around vaping in Australia potentially increases the number of those seeking health professional help for cessation. However, limited research exists on HPs' views and preparedness to assist YA with their vaping cessation; thus, this exploratory study aimed to gain insights into their readiness to support YA in quitting vaping. Aims and Methods Data were gathered via eight co-design workshops (two groups each of two hours duration and six semi-structured interviews of 1-hour duration), facilitated online with 12 HPs. Data underwent thematic analysis. Results HPs expressed a need for more information in supporting YA to quit vaping, with them presently relying on informal pathways of support and information for their practice. Participants reported a lack of evidence-based guidelines and a reluctance to prescribe nicotine vapes, expressing conflict with the changing regulatory landscape in Australia. Conclusions Our findings identify a significant gap in health professional preparedness in supporting vaping cessation. HPs are working within a rapidly evolving regulatory environment and are feeling unprepared to address the widely spread issue of vaping, especially among young people. We demonstrate the critical need for guidelines and training of HPs to enable them to better support young people in quitting vaping. Implications This qualitative study offers unique insights into the views and readiness of Australian HPs to support young people to quit vaping, specifically in the context of recent regulatory reforms. The results highlight the need for evidence-based guidance and training for HPs to inform their vaping cessation support practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined how Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) constructs help explain the intention to quit e-cigarettes in young Australian adults aged 18–24 years to inform vaping cessation programs. A cross-sectional survey of young adult vapers (n = 422) between March and the end of May 2023 examined personal, environmental, and behavioural factors of vaping cessation. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis examined the effects of SCT constructs on intention to quit vaping, controlling for covariates. Results found, in our sample consisting of 68% (n = 360) females, 18% (n = 95) males and 14% (n = 77) others, almost two-thirds (59.7%) of participants reported a quit attempt in the last year; with quit attempts being associated with quit intention (p ≤ 0.001). Model 1 (past year quit attempt, gender, educational attainment) accounted for 28.7% of the variance in quit intentions, with the addition of Model 2 SCT constructs adding a further significant 6.3% variance. Self-efficacy (B = 0.164, p ≤ 0.001), benefits (B = −0.106, p = 0.041) and social norms (B = −0.086, p = 0.035) had significant independent associations with quit intention. Findings demonstrate the SCT theoretical framework is suitable for use when developing vaping cessation programs, identifying the SCT constructs as important factors for quit intention. The findings can be used to inform the development of evidence-based vaping cessation programs to encourage vapers to quit and/or better support them in the quitting process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing numbers of young adults in Australia are choosing to abstain from alcohol. Research demonstrates young adults encounter difficulties when choosing to abstain in settings where alcohol consumption is common or expected. This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of abstainers aged 18–24 years to understand if the acceptance of their non-drinking practices is changing and how they managed their non-drinking practice in social contexts where alcohol consumption is common in Queensland, Australia. Drawing on the theoretical framework of symbolic interactionism, we show how drinking practices are prevalent and powerful, evident through pressure from significant others to drink. Second, we show how young adults enact agency to deal with this pressure and participate as a non-drinker through (a) having a strong sense of being, (b) using an empowered verbal response to deflect pressure and (c) choosing alternative non-alcohol-related activities. The findings offer insight into how young adults wishing to refrain from alcohol may participate openly as abstainers in heterogenous drinking groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Australian young adults (YA) report difficulties in quitting vaping. This study sought to understand what a vaping cessation program should look like from the perspective of current and former vapers, and professionals/experts involved in this health space, to inform the development of a conceptual model., Methods: Data collection was informed by Social Cognitive Theory using co-design methodology to explore vaping cessation. Interactive workshops and semi-structured interviews were held online between March 2023-January 2024, with data from participants' narratives and written materials thematically analysed., Results: YAs (18-24 years) identifying as current or former vapers (n=15) and health professionals/experts'(n=13) insights informed the model framework, incorporating three main elements based on environmental, personal and behavioural factors shaping vaping cessation. Four design considerations were identified; the program needs to be affordable, accessible, appropriate and adaptable. YAs expressed a strong preference to share their quitting journey with peers, endorsing a digital forum providing a hybrid framework of support., Conclusions: Vaping cessation is nuanced and complex requiring a multi-faceted approach targeted to the specific needs of the young adult population., Implications: The findings can be used to inform the development of a vaping cessation program tailored to young adults in Australia and other similar contexts. Young adults perceived sharing the quitting journey and being inspired by the lived experience of others as critical components for successful vaping cessation. Social Cognitive Theory is demonstrated to be a valuable behaviour change framework for understanding vaping cessation and should be considered in future research of intervention development., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco.)