Perceptions and practices of UK general practitioners towards youth vaping: a questionnaire-based study

Background E-cigarette use among adolescents and young adults is a growing public health concern. General practitioners (GPs) play a critical role in addressing health behaviours, yet there’s limited research on their perceptions and practices towards vaping in young people.

Aim This study aims to explore current perceptions and practices amongst GPs concerning vaping in young people.

Design & setting A quantitative approach was employed through an online, self-administered questionnaire. Respondents included both trainee and qualified GPs from across the UK.

Method The questionnaire consisted of Likert-scale and free-text questions, covering screening, counselling, and demographic information. Participants were recruited through newsletters and social media, with 284 responses collected from March to August 2024. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to assess for significant differences based on respondents’ region of work or level of experience.

Results General practitioners rarely inquire about e-cigarette use (23.9%), despite 85.6% believing it’s important to do so. Lack of time, relevance to the presenting complaint, and method for quantifying and documentation were cited as significant causes. Only 27.5% of GPs provide advice to e-cigarette users, likely due to low rates of confidence (12.3%). A lack of time, understanding of health effects, training, and availability of referral services were cited as causes. There were no significant variations in responses based on respondents' location or level of experience.

Conclusion GPs recognise the importance of youth vaping but face barriers to screening and counselling, indicating the need for change in guidelines and policy.