Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40948675›Full record

ArticleTobacco induced diseases2025

Strengthening the cognition of university students to refuse e-cigarette use: A pilot randomized controlled trial of a peer-to-peer intervention.

Yu Chen, Shujun Lin, Haoxiang Lin, Zining Wang, Xinjie Zhao, Peng Ao, Yujiang Cai, Jing Xu, Xinyao Yu, Xinrui Yang and 1 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Tobacco induced diseases, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Yu Chen *School of Art and Communication, Fujian Polytechnic Normal University, Fuqing, China.
Shujun Lin *Institute for Global Health and Development, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Haoxiang Lin *Institute for Global Health and Development, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Zining WangSchool of Journalism and Communication, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Xinjie ZhaoSchool of Journalism and Communication, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Peng AoSchool of Humanities, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou, China.
Yujiang CaiSchool of International Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Jing XuSchool of Journalism and Communication, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Xinyao YuFaculty of Humanities and Arts, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao SAR, Macau, China.
Xinrui YangFaculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, Macau, China.
Kin-Sun ChanFaculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, Macau, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionE-cigarette use among young adults represents a growing public health concern. This pilot randomized controlled trial evaluated the preliminary effects of Protection Motivation Theory (PMT)-based peer education on strengthening university students' cognition to refuse e-cigarette use in China, where tobacco control policies remain limited.

methodsA total of 289 participants completed baseline assessment and were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n=144) and a control group (n=145). The intervention consisted of a 1-month peer education program in which trained peer educators delivered PMT-based messages through weekly one-on-one conversations via phone or messaging platforms. Intervention participants received messages addressing all seven PMT constructs, while control participants received only messages about health risks of two PMT constructs. Primary outcomes were four PMT-based cognitive appraisals measured at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months. Linear mixed-models examined group × time interactions, and effect sizes were calculated for all comparisons.

resultsNo statistically significant between-group differences were observed for primary outcomes. Subgroup analysis revealed significant intervention effects at 3 months among participants with family or friends who used cigarettes/e-cigarettes: lower perceived rewards (mean difference= -0.55; 95% CI: -1.07 - -0.03, p=0.04) and greater perceived efficacy (mean difference=0.34; 95% CI: 0.06-0.62, p=0.02).

conclusionsWhile overall effects were not statistically significant, observed effect sizes and significant subgroup findings suggest PMT-based peer education may influence cognitive precursors to e-cigarette use, particularly among students with social exposure to tobacco use. Larger trials with extended follow-up periods are warranted to confirm these preliminary findings.

Indexed as

e-cigarette preventionpeer educationProtection Motivation Theoryrandomized controlled trialuniversity students

Identifiers

PMID40948675
PMCPMC12433193

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.