Pediatric primary healthcare providers’ preferences, experiences and perceived barriers to discussing electronic cigarettes with adolescent patients

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Our aim is to investigate pediatric primary healthcare providers' (PPCPs) perceptions about e-cigarettes and current e-cigarette-related clinical practices with adolescents.Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with 25 PPCPs who regularly counsel adolescents about preventive care. Prompts included topics about e-cigarettes PPCPs felt it was important to discuss in counseling, strategies for facilitating these conversations and barriers to these discussions.Results: Important topics included debunking myths and addressing risks associated with e-cigarette use, identifying the behavior as a potential gateway substance, and emphasizing lack of e-cigarette regulation. Strategies included emphasizing medical uncertainty, utilizing motivational interviewing, and providing outside resources. Barriers included a lack of medical knowledge, unfamiliarity with adolescents' motivations and slang, inadequate screening tools, and lack of time.Discussion: Providers negotiated the tension betw...