Few Australian paediatricians provide practical vaping cessation support to adolescents, survey finds

A national survey of paediatricians in Australia has identified a gap between recognising vaping as a problem and helping adolescents to quit, according to a study in the Journal of Pediatrics and Child Health.

The study surveyed 90 paediatricians and paediatric registrars. Some 90% recognised the addictive nature of vaping, and most considered it a serious concern for young people. However, this awareness did not consistently translate into cessation support.

More than two-thirds of respondents routinely advised adolescents against vaping. Only around one in five provided practical cessation support, and only one in three arranged follow-up care. Barriers identified included limited knowledge of referral pathways, time constraints and discomfort in discussing vaping.

Dr Alexey Kulikov, Head of Partnerships and Operations and Deputy Head of Secretariat at the UN Task Force on NCDs, highlighted the findings in a post on X. He wrote that the results underline the need for targeted professional training, clearer referral pathways and stronger integration of vaping cessation into routine adolescent healthcare.

"Recognising the problem is an important first step; ensuring that every young person can access the support needed to quit is the next," Kulikov wrote.