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Master of Public Health

Healthcare Provider Screening for Tobacco Product and Electronic Cigarette Use Among Youth in the United States

AUTHORS

Boakye E , Osuji N , Erhabor J , Obisesan O , Osei AD , El Shahawy O , Blaha MJ , . The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine. 2023 1 6; ().

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Healthcare providers play a critical role in curbing youth tobacco use through screening and counseling. Current rates of tobacco use screening by healthcare providers among US youth are unknown.

METHODS: We used 2020 National Youth Tobacco Survey data to examine the prevalence of healthcare provider screening for tobacco and e-cigarette use among US youth. Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined the factors associated with being screened for tobacco use.

RESULTS: Of 13,434 individuals who reported past 12-month visits to any healthcare professional, 47.5% (44.8%-50.1%) reported being screened for any tobacco use, while 31.5% (29.2%-40.0%) reported e-cigarette-specific screening. The odds of tobacco use screening were lower among males (odds ratio [OR]: 0.81 [0.73-0.89]) and middle schoolers (OR: 0.39 [0.33-0.44]) compared to females and high schoolers, respectively. In addition, non-Hispanic Black (OR: 0.71 [0.56-0.89]), Hispanic (OR: 0.76 [0.63-0.92]), and Asian youth (OR: 0.48 [0.37-0.63]) had lower odds of being screened than non-Hispanic White youth.

DISCUSSION: There are missed opportunities in tobacco screening by healthcare providers, particularly among males, middle schoolers, and racial/ethnic minority youth.

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