PURPOSE: Healthcare providers play a critical role in curbing youth tobacco use through screening and counseling. Current rates of tobacco use screening by healthcare providers among US youth are unknown.
METHODS: We used 2020 National Youth Tobacco Survey data to examine the prevalence of healthcare provider screening for tobacco and e-cigarette use among US youth. Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined the factors associated with being screened for tobacco use.
RESULTS: Of 13,434 individuals who reported past 12-month visits to any healthcare professional, 47.5% (44.8%–50.1%) reported being screened for any tobacco use, while 31.5% (29.2%–40.0%) reported e-cigarette–specific screening. The odds of tobacco use screening were lower among males (odds ratio [OR]: 0.81 [0.73–0.89]) and middle schoolers (OR: 0.39 [0.33–0.44]) compared to females and high schoolers, respectively. In addition, non-Hispanic Black (OR: 0.71 [0.56–0.89]), Hispanic (OR: 0.76 [0.63–0.92]), and Asian youth (OR: 0.48 [0.37–0.63]) had lower odds of being screened than non-Hispanic White youth.
DISCUSSION: There are missed opportunities in tobacco screening by healthcare providers, particularly among males, middle schoolers, and racial/ethnic minority youth.
Healthcare provider screening for tobacco product and electronic cigarette use among youth in the United States
Journal of Adolescent Health, 72 (5), 819-822. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2022.12.004. PMCID: PMC10121729.