Nakkash & Griffin engaging Virginia youth & community in designing LGBTQ+ inclusive vaping prevention interventions

Nakkash & Griffin Engaging Virginia Youth & Community In Designing LGBTQ+ Inclusive Vaping Prevention Interventions

Rima Nakkash, Professor, Global and Community Health, College of Public Health, and Kenneth Griffin, Professor, Global and Community Health, College of Public Health, received funding for the project: “Engaging Virginia youth and community in designing LGBTQ+ Inclusive Vaping Prevention Interventions.”

The researchers are developing evidence-based vaping prevention interventions tailored for LGBTQ+ youth in Virginia, informed by input from youth and stakeholders in this community. 

Nakkash and Griffin will conduct formative community engagement research, utilizing qualitative techniques incorporating interviews and focus group discussions, to gain a deeper understanding of the factors contributing to vape use among LGBTQ+ youth. They will interview members, community key experts (n=10-15), and LGBTQ+ youth 14 to 17 (n= 35-40). They will also conduct a thematic analysis of the interviews and focus group discussions to systematically identify, organize, and interpret patterns and themes within the qualitative data to gain deeper insights into factors affecting vaping behavior among LGBTQ+ youth.

Simultaneously, they will undertake a literature and scoping review of existing interventions to comprehensively identify effective strategies and analyze the interventions under the prism of inclusivity for LGBTQ+ vaping prevention to inform the adaptation process.

Finally, the research team will collaborate closely with LGBTQ+ organizations, youth councils, and other community key experts to form an advisory committee composed of 5-10 community key experts who will work with the research team to adapt evidence-based interventions for LGBTQ+ youth.

Regarding the significance of the project, Griffin said, “This project is an important step towards addressing the disproportionately high rates of vaping among LGBTQ+ youth in Virginia. By developing tailored, evidence-based interventions with input from the community, this work has the potential to significantly impact public health outcomes and reduce health disparities for this vulnerable population.”

The researchers will disseminate their findings and adapted interventions via academic publications, presentations at conferences, a project webpage, dissemination meetings, and publication of a report for policymakers and decision-makers. 

Nakkash and Griffin received $450,000 from the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth for this project. Funding began in July 2024 and will end in late June 2027.

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