HONORS IN ACTION PROJECT: 2015

VAPING, E-CIGARETTES

THEME #7:

  • Frontiers of Medicine
  • "Health & Medicine as Frontiers"

JOURNAL: Selection of Theme:

  • last spring, had narrowed to 2 topics (tattoos as frontier of personal expression & social role-playing game re: poverty)
  • but then lost the officer corps
  • after a slow start to the fall semester, with elections of new officers & a few other projects (PTK Day, C4, fall induction)
  • came to this topic while discussing it at an impromptu meeting
  • were discussing the various themes, an officer in the medical field, Great American Smoke Out came up as part of other campus activities we'd like to be involved in, that idea (to come up with an original angle to GAS) merged with new approaches to smoking, which lead us to vaping
  • as a frontier in medicine, a new field of research as e-cigarettes gain in popularity, especially among the young/teens
  • so we assigned committee heads for research (below) & set off to begin the HIA Project in earnest
  • Are e-cigarettes better, a healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes?

RESEARCH QUESTIONS:

  • What are recent technological advances in medicine, health care?
  • Have advances in medical technologies -- explorations into – created healthier alternatives or more dangerous products?
  • What is the impact of technology on health, health care?
  • Have advances in technology affected overall health – positively or negatively? Any difference/change?
  • Should e-cigarettes be regulated by the government?
  • * Are e-cigarettes better, a healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes?

LEADERSHIP ROLES:

  • Tricia:
  • LCCC campus policy re: vaping
  • Geisinger
  • Am. Lung Association re: vaping
  • Steph:
  • Who else is doing the Great Am. Smokeout, contact & allow us to participate
  • Let them know we’re discussing vaping
  • databases
  • Tanya:
  • Interviews with people at work: dr.s, nurses,…
  • Any literature
  • Any handouts we could use (re: anti-vaping)
  • Richelle:
  • Talk to Steph, see what you can take care of
  • Research: CDC, others
  • Maybe – advertising of e-cigs??
  • Reach out to PTK Members:
  • via Social Media
  • ask in classes
  • to get any other PTK members to participate

ACADEMIC RESEARCH:

  • Since e-cigarettes are new, a recent development, the majority of our research – our literature -- will be scholarly articles, published in journals, peer-reviewed/edited, and found through the school’s databases
  • DATABASES:
  • ProQuest Health
  • Update in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 2014
  • Rise in e-cigarette popularity may cause increase in teenage smoking
  • Psychology & Behavioral Sciences
  • Nicotine content of electronic cigarettes, its release in vapour and its consistency across batches: regulatory implications
  • Perceptions about e-cigarette safety may lead to e-smoking during pregnancy
  • The Impact of Trying Electronic Cigarettes on Cigarette Smoking by College Students: A Prospective Analysis.
  • Opposing Viewpoints
  • Science Direct
  • JSTOR
  • Gale Power Search
  • Academic Search Premier
  • Health and Wellness Resource Center
  • Health Reference Center Academic
  • Health Source - Consumer Edition
  • SOURCES:
  • CDC search (list of articles): http://search.cdc.gov/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&affiliate=cdc-main&query=e-cigarettes+dangers

ANALYSIS & CONCLUSIONS:

DETERMINATION of ACTION:

  • A look at the academic calendar showed the GAS coming up
  • Seemed a natural fit, perfect venue for our research

COLLABORATION:

  • Implementing the project
  • Recruit PTK members via Facebook, student intranet, meetings, other chapter events
  • Asked students (non-PTK members) in our health-related classes
  • Discussed at SGA meeting with other club/organization leaders
  • Partnered with SGA, Circle K, Wellness Committee, … on The Great American Smoke Out Day

ACTION:

  • Great American Smoke Out
  • posters, handouts, fliers, …..
  • factoids on intranet

EVALUATION:

FUTURE IMPLIACTIONS: