Grant: Operating Grant: CCS/CIHR Action Grants

Need for project Vaping has increased dramatically among youth in Canada. In 2019, 1 in 4 Ontario high school students reported vaping in the last 30 days. Youth who use vapes may be more likely to progress to cigarette smoking, increasing their risk of developing various cancers. Schools are a common, equitable setting for intervention among youth populations. However, due to the novelty of vapes there is a lack of evidence for effective school-based prevention approaches targeting vaping. Goal of project The goal of this pilot project is to examine the feasibility of implementing the ‘Catch My Breath’ (CMB) vaping prevention curriculum in high schools in Ontario in order to support the adoption and scalability of this evidence-based curriculum in high schools across Canada. Project description A convenience sample of 6 high schools in Ontario will be selected to test and provide feedback about the ‘Catch My Breath’ (CMB) vaping prevention curriculum. CMB is an evidence-informed program that is designed to fit into existing class schedules and is delivered through four 40-minute lessons by a classroom teacher. After exposure to CMB, focus groups with students and interviews with teachers will obtain feedback about the curriculum. Thematic analysis will identify major themes. Future impact Researchers: This study, and subsequent trials, will provide much-needed evaluation evidence for school-based vaping prevention programs. Schools: Due to the novelty of vapes, there are few school-based prevention programs targeting vaping. This study will support the adoption of evidence-based vaping prevention programs in high schools across Canada. Students: Preventing vaping initiation and experimentation among youth will reduce the risk of negative health outcomes related to vaping/tobacco use, including future cancer development.