Abstract
Introduction: Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS, commonly known as e-cigarettes) use has increased rapidly among young adults (YAs, 18-24 years) in rural communities. E-cigarette use is a higher risk factor for both cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. Addressing the disturbing rates of e-cigarette use in YAs requires cessation resources to be available and accessible. Regrettably, rural community residents have limited access to cessation resources. The purpose of this study was to explore YAs' perceptions and experiences engaging in text-message intervention to assist with vaping cessation effectively.
Methods: A qualitative investigation with individual interviews was conducted. Participants (n = 8) were from a larger study focused on text messaging cessation interventions in rural Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Research team members conducted post-intervention interviews via Zoom. Content analysis was employed to analyze transcripts using NVivo 20.
Results: Four key themes emerged from the data: (1) Effectiveness of text messaging intervention, (2) Essential attributes of text messaging program, (3) Areas for improvement, and (4) Safety of intervention.
Conclusion: YAs in rural areas reported that text messaging is an effective intervention for ENDS cessation. The convenience and personalized support YA received via text messaging provided frequent reminders and support. Incorporating participant-driven modifications and expanding the text messaging intervention strategy to a larger cohort has the potential to contribute to a broader public health effort to reduce ENDS use in underserved rural populations.
Notes
References:
Kasza, K. A., Rivard, C., Goniewicz, M. L., Fong, G. T., Hammond, D., Cummings, K. M., & Hyland, A. (2024). E-Cigarette Characteristics and Cigarette Cessation Among Adults Who Use E-Cigarettes. JAMA Network Open, 7(8), e2423960. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.23960
Stanton, C. A., Tang, Z., Sharma, E., Seaman, E., Gardner, L. D., Silveira, M. L., Hatsukami, D., Day, H. R., Cummings, K. M., Goniewicz, M. L., Limpert, J., Everard, C., Bansal-Travers, M., Ambrose, B., Kimmel, H. L., Borek, N., Compton, W. M., Hyland, A. J., & Pearson, J. L. (2023). Predictors of E-cigarette and Cigarette Use Trajectory Classes from Early Adolescence to Emerging Adulthood Across Four Years (2013–2017) of the PATH Study. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 25(3), 421–429. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntac119
Rose, J. J., Krishnan-Sarin, S., Exil, V. J., Hamburg, N. M., Fetterman, J. L., Ichinose, F., Perez-Pinzon, M. A., Rezk-Hanna, M., Williamson, E., & American Heart Association Council on Cardiopulmonary, Critical Care, Perioperative and Resuscitation; Council on Epidemiology and Prevention; Council on Cardiovascular Radiology and Intervention; Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health; Council on Peripheral Vascular Disease; Stroke Council; and Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. (2023). Cardiopulmonary Impact of Electronic Cigarettes and Vaping Products: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation, 148(8), 703–728. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001160
Stanton, C. A., Tang, Z., Sharma, E., Seaman, E., Gardner, L. D., Silveira, M. L., Hatsukami, D., Day, H. R., Cummings, K. M., Goniewicz, M. L., Limpert, J., Everard, C., Bansal-Travers, M., Ambrose, B., Kimmel, H. L., Borek, N., Compton, W. M., Hyland, A. J., & Pearson, J. L. (2023). Predictors of E-cigarette and Cigarette Use Trajectory Classes from Early Adolescence to Emerging Adulthood Across Four Years (2013–2017) of the PATH Study. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 25(3), 421–429. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntac119
Thoonen, K. A. H. J., & Jongenelis, M. I. (2023). Perceptions of e-cigarettes among Australian adolescents, young adults, and adults. Addictive Behaviors, 144, 107741. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107741
Choo, J., Noh, S., Moon, J., Park, J., Jeoung, Y., & Song, W. (2022). Intention to quit electronic cigarette smoking among university students who are e-cigarette users. Journal of American College Health, 72(7), 2137–2146. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2022.2103383
Sigma Membership
Eta Nu
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Qualitative Research
Keywords:
Public and Community Health, Promoting Clinical Outcomes, Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems, E-cigarettes, E-cigarette Prevention Methods
Recommended Citation
Machongo, Redson Biswick; Thongpriwan, Vipavee; Gwon, Seok Hyun; and Noonan, Devon, "Young Adults' Experiences With Text Messaging Intervention for E-Cigarette Cessation in Rural Areas" (2025). Biennial Convention (CONV). 56.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/convention/2025/posters_2025/56
Conference Name
48th Biennial Convention
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2025-12-03
Young Adults' Experiences With Text Messaging Intervention for E-Cigarette Cessation in Rural Areas
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Introduction: Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS, commonly known as e-cigarettes) use has increased rapidly among young adults (YAs, 18-24 years) in rural communities. E-cigarette use is a higher risk factor for both cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. Addressing the disturbing rates of e-cigarette use in YAs requires cessation resources to be available and accessible. Regrettably, rural community residents have limited access to cessation resources. The purpose of this study was to explore YAs' perceptions and experiences engaging in text-message intervention to assist with vaping cessation effectively.
Methods: A qualitative investigation with individual interviews was conducted. Participants (n = 8) were from a larger study focused on text messaging cessation interventions in rural Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Research team members conducted post-intervention interviews via Zoom. Content analysis was employed to analyze transcripts using NVivo 20.
Results: Four key themes emerged from the data: (1) Effectiveness of text messaging intervention, (2) Essential attributes of text messaging program, (3) Areas for improvement, and (4) Safety of intervention.
Conclusion: YAs in rural areas reported that text messaging is an effective intervention for ENDS cessation. The convenience and personalized support YA received via text messaging provided frequent reminders and support. Incorporating participant-driven modifications and expanding the text messaging intervention strategy to a larger cohort has the potential to contribute to a broader public health effort to reduce ENDS use in underserved rural populations.
Description
Text messaging interventions are cost-effective and culturally appropriate interventions to help YAs in rural communities cease and prevent e-cigarette use. Policymakers and other stakeholders must ensure that other resources are available and easily accessed in communities. Text messaging, combined with other interventions, must be used and sensitized among YAs to prevent cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases associated with e-cigarette use.