Date of Publication
2025
Project Team
Holly Whitcomb, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC; Amy Renner, MS, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
Abstract
Adolescent vaping is a growing public health concern, contributing to high rates of nicotine and cannabis use among youth. Despite substantial health risks conferred by vaping, screening remains inconsistent in primary care, leading to missed opportunities for early intervention. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to enhance adolescent vaping screening by implementing a Screening to Brief Intervention (S2BI) Smart Phrase in the electronic health record (EHR) at a family medicine clinic. The objective was to improve screening rates by 20% over a 12-week period and increase provider knowledge, confidence, and comfort in using the S2BI tool. The primary intervention was to use the S2BI Smart Phrase in adolescent well-visits. The secondary intervention was a provider education presentation on use of the S2BI tool and broader vaping trends. Screening rates, interventions, and referrals to treatment were measured as outcome indicators. Process measures included provider knowledge, confidence, and comfort, assessed through pre- and post-intervention surveys. Findings showed the S2BI Smart Phrase substantially improved adolescent vaping screening rates, with screening completed in 56.67% of well-visits, compared to only 16.67% using the standard EHR screening procedure. Additionally, provider knowledge, confidence, and comfort in using the S2BI tool showed improvements. Findings from this project underscore the importance of structured screening and provider education in addressing adolescent vaping. Future initiatives should focus on refining workflows, integrating vaping-specific phrasing into existing frameworks, and expanding the use of validated screening tools across broader patient populations to enhance vaping screening.
Document Type
Dissertation/Thesis
Recommended Citation
Kelley, Claudia, "Implementing a Clinical Screening and Decision Support Tool to Improve Vaping Screening in Adolescent Patients" (2025). College of Nursing and Health Sciences Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Project Publications. 172.
https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/cnhsdnp/172
Included in
Family Practice Nursing Commons, Pediatric Nursing Commons, Substance Abuse and Addiction Commons
