Developing network system to prevent electronic cigarettes use in youth, Prachiburi Province

Abstract

Smoking is a cause of various diseases that negatively impact both the smokers’ health and the health of others. This action research aimed to develop a network system for preventing electronic cigarette (e-cigarettes) use among youth and to evaluate the outcomes of this system development in Prachinburi Province, using the PAOR (Plan-Act-Observe-Reflect) process. Research instruments included data recording forms and questionnaires. Data were collected from December 2023 to December 2024. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (percentage, mean, standard deviation) and inferential statistics, including the Wilcoxon signed ranks test and paired t-test.
The results showed that the network system developed to prevent the use of e-cigarettes among youth in Prachinburi Province utilized the 7A measures, including approach, assessment, agency collaboration, assembly, action, access to reduce use, and appraisal. The development process resulted in five key prevention strategies; strengthening the network, enhancing health literacy about e-cigarettes, preventing new smokers, offering treatment for smoking cessation or reduction among current smokers, and creating smoke-free environments. After development of the network system, participants showed a statistically significant increase in knowledge regarding the addictive effects of e-cigarettes (p < .001). There was also a statistically significant increase in mean scores for health literacy and attitudes toward e-cigarette control (p < .001), as well as an increase in overall participation in e-cigarette prevention and control (p < .001). In conclusion, the development of a network system for preventing e-cigarette use among youth effectively enhanced knowledge about the impacts of e-cigarettes, improved health literacy and attitudes toward e-cigarette control, and increased community participation in e-cigarette prevention.