AIMS: This article thematically analyses spontaneous responses of teenagers and explores their perceptions of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) with a focus on smoking cessation from data collected for research exploring Scottish secondary school students' recall of key messages from @entity286 -education interventions and any influence on perceptions and behaviours. METHODS: E-cigarettes were not included in the research design as they did not feature in interventions. However, in discussions in all participating schools, e-cigarettes were raised by students unprompted by researchers. Seven of 19 publicly funded schools in the region opted to participate. Groups of 13- to 16-year-olds were purposely selected to include a range of aptitudes, non-smokers, smokers, males and females. A total of 182 pupils took part. Data were generated through three co-produced classroom radio tasks with pupils (radio quiz, sitcom, factual interviewing), delivered by a researcher and professional broadcast team. All pupils were briefly interviewed by a researcher. Activities were recorded and transcribed verbatim and the researcher discussed emerging findings with the broadcast team. Data were analysed using NVivo and transcripts making reference to e-cigarettes examined further using inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Key themes of their impressions of e-cigarettes were easy availability and price; advertising; the products being safer or healthier, addiction and @entity1239 ; acceptability and experiences of use; and variety of flavours. CONCLUSIONS: This was a qualitative study in one region, and perception of e-cigarettes was not an a priori topic. However, it provides insights into youth perceptions of e-cigarettes. How they discerned e-cigarettes reflects their marketing environment. The relative harmlessness of @entity1239 , affordability of e-cigarettes, coolness of vaping, absence of second-hand harms and availability of innovative products are all key marketing features. Conflicting messages on safety, efficacy, potential 'gateway' to smoking and @entity1239 may be contributing to teenagers' @entity911 . The allure of 'youthful cool' to vaping offers no public health gain, so @entity1 should be protected from misleading promotion. Consistent @entity286 -education initiatives need to account for this popular trend.

Teenage perceptions of electronic cigarettes in Scottish XXXX -education school interventions: co-production and innovative engagement through a pop-up radio project.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['children'] @entity286 :: ('4097', 'Species') :: ['tobacco'] @entity1239 :: ('MESH:D009538', 'Chemical') :: ['nicotine'] @entity911 :: ('MESH:D003221', 'Disease') :: ['confusion']
@entity286 :: (4097,Species) :: ['tobacco']
