Preventive and Informative Efforts Targeting Secondary School Students Regarding Nontobacco Nicotine Products: Insights from Swedish School Nurses

Use of nontobacco nicotine products is increasing among the youth. School nurses aim to prevent such unhealthy habits. However, there is limited evidence relating to the knowledge of these nurses, and their capacity to work with tobacco-free nicotine products. Therefore, we aimed to illuminate the prerequisites and experiences necessary for school nurses to work with secondary school students for preventing the use of nontobacco nicotine products. This qualitative study was based on 18 semi-structured interviews conducted with Swedish school nurses, using conventional content analysis. One main category emerged: <i>Experiences and prerequisites for working preventively in the context of nontobacco nicotine products</i> and four subcategories. Certain nurses in the sample indicated that they had the experience, prerequisites (including time, fewer students per nurse, and an engaged and understanding organization), and competence to enable them to be suitable advocates for working preventively in schools under conducive conditions.