School Policy, Administrator Perceptions, and Student E-cigarette Use

• Published in: Health behavior and policy review Vol. 5; no. 4; pp. 72 - 82
• Main Authors: Nicksic, Nicole E., Harrell, Melissa B., Pérez, Adriana, Pasch, Keryn E., Perry, Cheryl L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Paris Scholar Publishing Ltd 01.07.2018
• Subjects: Adolescent Health; E-Cigarettes; School Administrators; School Health Policy; School Tobacco Use; school administrators; school health policy; e-cigarettes; adolescent health; school tobacco use
• ISSN: 2326-4403; 2326-4403
• DOI: 10.14485/HBPR.5.4.8

Objective In this study, we investigated the relationship between school e-cigarette policy and e-cigarette use among students. Secondarily, we examined whether this relationship varied by administrator perceptions about e-cigarette use being "an issue." MethodsData were utilized from written school policies, a school tobacco surveillance study of 2755 students (N = 310,412), and administrator interviews in 54 Texas schools. ResultsWhen administrators perceived e-cigarettes as an issue, the odds of ever e-cigarette use, susceptibility to use e-cigarettes, and perceived peer use of e-cigarettes were 0.20-0.54 times lower for students attending schools that had an e-cigarette policy compared to those without a policy (p < .05). ConclusionThe impact of school policies on student e-cigarette use behavior is positive if policies are strongly implemented.