# Pilot and Feasibility Testing of a Peer-led Program to Prevent Youth Nicotine Vaping: The YES-CAN! Program

> **NIH NIH R34** · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · 2023 · $234,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 Nicotine vaping among adolescents has surged in prevalence over the past decade. Vaping poses clear
health risks, is highly addictive, and leads to the use of combustible cigarettes. Our multi-disciplinary team,
which includes expertise in youth participatory approaches, substance use prevention, nicotine use and
cessation, and statistics, has developed an innovative school-based approach that promotes positive health
behavior while also addressing academic standards, and thus incorporates both the academic mission of
schools and youth health. YES-CAN! (Youth Engaged Strategies to Change Adolescent Norms) integrates the
following evidence-based strategies: youth-adult collaboration; youth-developed narrative videos to convey
health messages; peer leaders as change agents; and sustained implementation to change the normative
environment. It rests on evidence that adolescents are more likely to change attitudes, norms, and behaviors
when exposed to messages developed and delivered by peer role models rather than teachers, parents, or
other adults.
 For this pilot/feasibility study, two middle/high school communities will receive the intervention. In each
school community, we will implement a credit-earning high school class in which a trained teacher will deliver
the one-year classroom-based program to 25-30 high school students, who will produce 6-8 short videos
intended to increase refusal skills; promote stress management and positive coping; change social norms;
prevent vaping initiation; and promote vaping cessation among current users. Videos will use a narrative
approach and integrate known determinants of vaping. High school students will collaborate with the teacher
and researchers to develop discussion guides and skills-building activities based on best practices for
substance use prevention. In 6-8 eight sessions, high school students will deliver their videos to all students in
the associated middle school. A text messaging component will reinforce and boost the effectiveness of the
classroom sessions.
 Our overarching hypothesis is that this intensive approach that involves both middle and high school
students in the same community will result in a new normative environment and a reduction in youth vaping.
Aims for this pilot/feasibility study are to: 1) Determine the feasibility and acceptability of implementing the
YES-CAN! program; and 2) Determine the feasibility and acceptability of the research protocols that will be
used in a future efficacy trial. Primary efficacy outcomes include vaping ever use, past month use, daily use,
susceptibility, behavioral intentions, and vaping-related knowledge, attitudes, perceived norms, resistance
skills, and self-efficacy. Additionally, for high school students who participate in the intervention development
and delivery, outcomes include positive youth development. Outcomes will be measured over a 13 month
period.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10808757
- **Project number:** 1R34DA058218-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
- **Principal Investigator:** Nancy Asdigian
- **Activity code:** R34 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $234,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2023-09-15 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10808757

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10808757, Pilot and Feasibility Testing of a Peer-led Program to Prevent Youth Nicotine Vaping: The YES-CAN! Program (1R34DA058218-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10808757. Licensed CC0.

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