Parents' perceptions of using e-cigarettes around children in the home

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  An exploration of parents’ perceptions and experiences of using e-cigarettes in homes with young children

• IRAS ID

  204259

• Contact name

  Laura L Jones

• Contact email

  L.L.Jones@bham.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Birmingham

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 6 months, 30 days

• Research summary

  The use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) has increased rapidly in recent years in the UK. It is likely that many adults who are using e-cigarettes are parents who have children living at home with them. At the moment, we know very little about how and why parents are using e-cigarettes compared to tobacco cigarettes. We know that being a smoker and having children can be challenging. Therefore, this study will explore parents’ experiences of and views around using e-cigarettes at home with children. We would like to find out:
  • How and why parents’ use e-cigarettes in the home
  • What factors (such as age) are linked with the use of e-cigarettes by parents at home
  • If e-cigarettes could help parents who smoke tobacco in the home to go smoke-free at home

  In order to do this, we will undertake a 12 month mixed methods study. We will use a quantitative survey and qualitative interviews with participants. To take part, participants must be parents (this can include step-, adoptive-, foster-parents, guardians and other caregivers), be using (or have previously used) e-cigarettes within the home, have at least one child under the age of 16 living with them, be 18 years old or over, have good spoken English and able to provide informed consent.

  Data will be collected via Primary Care (GP surgeries and pharmacies), Birmingham Community Healthcare Trust (health visitor clinics) and community settings (vaping / e-cigarette shops). These are ideal settings to identify parents of children under the age of 16 who are using e-cigarettes. Posters advertising the study will be used across all sites. Identification of participants will be done by a member of patient’s usual care team, with subsequent recruitment and data collection being undertaken by the research team in GP and health visitor clinics.

• REC name

  South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  16/SW/0287

• Date of REC Opinion

  10 Oct 2016

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion