JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Background:

Only a few trials target high-school aged teens with vaping interventions, typically focusing on prevention rather than cessation, with content limited to vaping harms and refusal skills. Given the co-occurrence and increasing incidence of vaping and mental health issues in teens, both must be simultaneously addressed by vaping interventions.

Objective:

Objective:

The aim of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a Virtual Reality (VR) intervention for teens that targets both determinants of vaping (e.g., mood and stress) and vaping prevention and cessation skills.

Methods:

Methods:

Participants are 150 students attending one of two racially and ethnically diverse Boston-area high schools. Health classes are randomly assigned to VR or Control (assessment only). Students participate if they meet eligibility criteria, assent, and are not opted out by a parent. While Control classes have their regular classroom activity, VR classes are provided with Oculus Meta Quest 2 headsets and engage with the intervention during three class periods. Players solve a mystery with a vaping sub-plot and play five mini-games to teach emotional regulation, coping strategies, and building resilience. A mobile app connects to the game, where players text with their in-game friend, providing a home-based experience to reinforce skills. VR and Control classes complete baseline and post-intervention surveys on the same schedule. Primary outcome measures include vaping awareness, knowledge, attitudes and intention to avoid or quit vaping, engagement with the intervention, and satisfaction with game play. Secondary outcomes include vaping quit attempts, 7-and 30-day point prevalence abstinence, motivation and self-efficacy to quit or avoid vaping, positive and negative affect, emotional regulation and coping, and motion sickness.

Results:

Results:

Data collection began in April 2024 and concluded in June 2024. Data cleaning has been completed, and analyses are ongoing. Results are expected to be submitted for publication in June 2025.

Conclusions:

Conclusions:

The multi-sensory VR experience (visual, auditory, and tactile) is ideal for practicing skills, thus facilitating memory and increasing the likelihood of transfer to real world settings. The immersion of VR promotes engagement with the intervention, rather than outside digital temptations. Our study is innovative due to the cluster randomized design, focus on both prevention and cessation, integration of mood management, and implementation among racially and ethnically diverse teens. Incorporation into school-based health curriculums allows for proactive reach. Clinical Trial: NCT06003439