
Brian P Jenssen
VerifiedUniversity of Pennsylvania · Rehabilitation Medicine
Active 2005–2026
About
Brian P Jenssen, MD, MSHP, is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics (General Pediatrics) at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a faculty member at PolicyLab at CHOP. He is also an Attending Physician in the Division of General Pediatrics at CHOP, Medical Director of Value-Based Care for CHOP’s Care Network, and Senior Fellow at the Leonard Davis Institute at the University of Pennsylvania. His research involves the use of clinical decision support systems and population health management techniques to protect children from secondhand smoke exposure and tobacco use. Current efforts include helping parents quit smoking in clinical settings and conducting clinical and policy research to protect adolescents and youth from e-cigarettes and vaping. Dr. Jenssen focuses on leveraging health information technology to engineer and implement novel approaches and products aimed at improving care for children and their parents.
Research topics
- Medicine
- Pathology
- Psychiatry
- Demography
- Internal medicine
- Gerontology
- Environmental health
- Pediatrics
- Family medicine
- Virology
- Medical emergency
Selected publications
An Electronic Health Record–Based Tobacco Treatment System for Parents in Pediatric Primary Care
PEDIATRICS · 2026-03-17
article1st authorCorrespondingBACKGROUND: Parental smoking is a leading source of secondhand smoke exposure for children, increasing risks of respiratory illness and future smoking. Cessation treatment delivery for parents remains rare in pediatrics. This study evaluates the population-level impact of an automated tobacco treatment system integrated into the electronic health record (EHR) in pediatric primary care. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational study of parents whose children received care at 12 pediatric practices in a cluster-randomized trial (June 2021-August 2024). Six practices implemented an automated EHR-linked parent tobacco treatment system (screening, motivational messaging, automatic treatment connection including nicotine replacement therapy, SmokefreeTXT, and quitline referral through a previsit questionnaire); 6 implemented screening only. This analysis included all parents who completed questionnaires during routine care, excluding parents enrolled in the trial. We analyzed self-reported cessation rates among parents who reported smoking during the study period. RESULTS: Among 55 567 parents with follow-up data (49 595 mothers; 5972 fathers), smoking rates were 4.3% vs 5.5% for mothers and 6.5% vs 8.3% for fathers receiving care with vs without the system. Among mothers who reported smoking during the study, cessation rates were significantly higher for those receiving care with the system (37.4% vs 33.5%, P = .044), representing a 3.9% improvement. Among fathers who smoked, there was no difference in cessation rates (29.6% vs 29.6%). CONCLUSIONS: An automated tobacco treatment system was associated with significantly increased maternal smoking cessation in pediatric settings while showing no effect for fathers. This scalable approach could enhance pediatric preventive care by reducing household tobacco use.
Generative Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Families and Pediatricians
PEDIATRICS · 2026-03-04 · 1 citations
articleGenerative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, capable of producing original text, images, audio, and video, are increasingly embedded in children's learning, play, and daily life. Pediatric clinicians and parents face the challenge of guiding children toward safe and constructive engagement with these rapidly evolving tools. This state-of-the-art review synthesizes current knowledge regarding opportunities, risks, and best practices related to children's interactions with generative AI. Developmental considerations are emphasized because the impact of AI varies across early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence. We highlight potential benefits, including personalized learning, creative expression, and enhanced communication, while also discussing risks such as misinformation, privacy threats, and false perceptions of AI as a friend or caregiver. Evidence-based strategies are proposed to promote AI literacy, critical thinking, and safe integration of AI into pediatric care and education.
Missed Opportunities for Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Before Sexual Debut Among Adolescents
JAMA Pediatrics · 2026-03-16
articleOpen access1st authorCorrespondingThis cross-sectional study examines factors associated with missed opportunities to vaccinate adolescents for human papillomavirus before sexual debut, using survey data linked to vaccination records within a large pediatric network.
Extreme Temperatures and Missed Pediatric Preventive Care Visits
JAMA Network Open · 2026-04-27
articleOpen accessImportance: Missed pediatric preventive care visits can delay essential developmental screenings, immunizations, and management of chronic conditions, adversely impacting child health. Understanding the relationship between extreme temperatures and missed preventive care is essential for developing adaptive strategies to maintain care access amid increasing climate variability. Objective: To assess the association of extreme temperatures with rates of missed pediatric preventive care visits and evaluate differences by patient age, insurance, and neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES). Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional time-series study used electronic health record data of patients aged younger than 19 years with scheduled preventive care visits at 32 primary care practices in the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia primary care network in Pennsylvania and New Jersey from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2023. Statistical analyses were completed between March and October 2025. Exposure: Daily maximum temperature (°F), derived from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's weather stations and averaged at the county level for each practice. Main Outcome and Measures: Daily rate of missed preventive care visits (the proportion of scheduled visits resulting in same-day cancellation or no-show). Generalized linear quasi-Poisson models estimated associations of daily maximum temperature (in °F) with daily rate of missed preventive care visits overall and stratified by age, insurance, and neighborhood SES. Associations were evaluated separately for warm (May-October) and cold (November-April) months. Heterogeneity across strata was evaluated using the Cochran Q test. Results: Among 504 428 patients, 51% were male, 36% had public insurance, and 27% were from very low SES neighborhoods. Mean (SD) patient age was 6.0 (5.7) years. Among 4 137 542 scheduled preventive care visits, 13% were missed. Each 1 °F decrease below a maximum daily temperature of 41.5 °F in cold months and 1 °F increase above 88.0 °F in warm months was associated with a higher rate of missed visits (rate ratios, 1.01 [95% CI, 1.01-1.01] and 1.01 [95% CI, 1.00-1.01], respectively). Significant heterogeneity in missed visits across age, payer, and neighborhood SES was observed in cold months, with higher rates of missed visits among patients with commercial vs public or other types of insurance (RR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.02-1.02) as well as among younger patients and those from high SES neighborhoods. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cross-sectional study, extreme outdoor temperatures were associated with increased rates of missed pediatric preventive care visits, with heterogeneity across age, payer, and neighborhood SES during cold months. The findings suggest proactive scheduling strategies and alternative care delivery models should be assessed to maintain access to essential pediatric preventive care services during temperature extremes.
Academic Pediatrics · 2026-04-10
articleOpen accessSenior authorOBJECTIVE: Strategies are needed to increase adolescent and young adult (AYA) engagement in nicotine use treatment. We assessed feasibility, acceptability, and clinical impact of text-message outreach connecting AYA to nicotine use treatment across a large health network. METHODS: This quality improvement pilot study included 2 phases of text-message outreach following primary care visits. All patients aged 13 to 22 completed an in-visit confidential electronic health questionnaire assessing past 30-day nicotine use. Phase 1: patients selected whether to receive text outreach about quitting resources. Phase 2: all patients reporting nicotine use who provided a phone number on the electronic questionnaire received automatic text outreach. Treatment options included a text-messaging program (This is Quitting) and/or nicotine replacement therapy. Outcome measures included feasibility (phone number provision), acceptability (treatment interest), and clinical impact (treatment connection). RESULTS: Among 23,411 AYA screened from February to June 2024, 919 (3.9%) reported past 30-day nicotine use. For feasibility, 90% and 91% of AYA who reported nicotine use provided a phone number in each phase, respectively. Acceptability was higher in Phase 1 versus Phase 2 (11% vs 2%), but clinical impact was similar (2% vs 1%). Overall, 824 patients who reported nicotine use provided a phone number (90%), 59 expressed treatment interest (6%), and 16 connected to treatment (2%). CONCLUSIONS: Text-message outreach was feasible but achieved low acceptability and clinical impact. Barriers included a high rate of messages blocked as spam, limited interventions for AYA with infrequent nicotine use, and barriers to accessing NRT related to cost and confidentiality.
Circulation · 2025-11-03
articleSenior authorBackground: Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure affects over 40% of children in the US and increases their risk of respiratory infections, asthma, and sudden infant death syndrome. Children with heart disease may be particularly vulnerable due to altered cardiopulmonary physiology, including shunt lesions and baseline hypoxemia. While some pediatric primary care settings have adopted electronic health record (EHR)-linked systems to address parent tobacco use, their feasibility in pediatric subspecialty settings such as cardiology is unknown. Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of an automated clinical decision support tool within the EHR to provide smoking cessation counseling and treatment to parents and household members of children evaluated in an outpatient pediatric cardiology clinic. Methods: This prospective study was conducted at two outpatient pediatric cardiology clinics. All families presenting for follow-up visits received an EHR-linked questionnaire assessing caregiver and household tobacco use. The questionnaire directly screens for parent and household member tobacco use, delivers brief motivational messaging, and connects interested individuals to evidence-based treatment, including: nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and/or counseling via phone or text. We used EHR utilization data to assess questionnaire completion rates, tobacco use identification, and treatment acceptance. Analyses were stratified by patient age, sex, race, insurance status, and neighborhood Child Opportunity Index (COI). Results: Between 3/19/25 and 5/26/25, 545 questionnaires were assigned of which 465 (85%) were completed. Parents who smoke were identified at 12 (2.6%) visits, and 7 (58%) were interested in and offered treatment, with 6 prescribed NRT. Other household members who smoke were identified at 24 (5.3%) of visits, and 4 (16.7%) were referred for treatment. There was no difference in questionnaire completion by patient age, sex, or race. Parents of children with Medicaid insurance and lower neighborhood COI were less likely to complete the assigned screener, but more likely to smoke (Figs. 1 and 2). There was no difference in treatment acceptance by demographic characteristics. Conclusion: An EHR-linked system for parental smoking cessation was feasible in pediatric cardiology clinics. Future research should evaluate its impact on clinical outcomes across diverse populations, especially in those with low COI and high-risk cardiac physiology.
Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports · 2025-06-25 · 1 citations
articleOpen accessThe rate of tobacco use among people with HIV (PWH) is >2 fold higher vs. the general population and accounts for more life years lost than the virus. Yet, evidence-based tobacco treatments are uncommonly offered by clinicians or used by PWH. Biases informed by behavioral economics concerning tobacco treatments may drive this practice gap. This formative study tested nudges in the form of messages that target four behavioral economic biases – status quo, availability, omission, and focusing effect – to determine which message would be most strongly associated with PWH willingness to use or clinician referral for tobacco treatment; 19 clinicians and 75 PWH assessed pair-wise comparisons of the four messages with instructions to select the message that, if sent via text or a patient portal, or via the electronic medical record (EMR) at a clinic visit, would increase willingness to use or provide a referral for tobacco treatment. There were significant differences in reported preference across the messages among PWH (χ 2 [3]=24.79, p <0.001) and clinicians ( χ 2 [3]=33.85 , p <0.001). The message that addressed focusing effect bias was most preferred for increasing use and referral for tobacco treatment among PWH (29%) and clinicians (38%). A message that addressed focusing effect bias was associated with greater interest in the use of or referral for tobacco treatment within HIV care. These results can help design a clinical trial to test the effectiveness of these messages within the clinical workflow for their effects on actual use of and referral for tobacco treatment for PWH. • Messages targeting focusing effect bias related to tobacco treatment in HIV care. • Behavioral economics can provide a framework for implementing tobacco treatment. • Results can guide subsequent implementation science studies of tobacco treatment.
Automated Tobacco Cessation Intervention for Parents in Pediatric Primary Care
JAMA Network Open · 2025-08-27 · 2 citations
articleOpen accessImportance: Treatment for tobacco use for parents in pediatric primary care settings is rarely provided but may support cessation and reduce childhood tobacco smoke exposure. Objective: To study the integration of the automated Clinical Effort Against Secondhand Smoke Exposure (eCEASE) tobacco cessation intervention into pediatric primary care via the electronic health record (EHR). Design, Setting, and Participants: This cluster-randomized clinical trial was conducted from July 16, 2021, to August 15, 2023, at 12 pediatric primary care practices in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, region. Participants included parents who used combusted tobacco in the past 7 days and attended a child's preventive health care visit. Intervention: In all practices, household members completed EHR previsit questionnaires about tobacco use. Parents in intervention practices were proactively offered eCEASE (automated delivery of nicotine replacement therapy [NRT], quitline and/or SmokefreeTXT enrollment, and navigator support). Control practice parents received usual care. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was biochemically confirmed 7-day abstinence from combusted tobacco use by parents at the 1-year follow-up. Secondary outcomes included NRT and quitline and/or SmokefreeTXT use and recent quit attempts. Changes in cigarettes per day and smoking frequency (daily or nondaily) from baseline to 1-year follow-up were also examined. Results: Of 817 enrolled smoking parents (672 [82.3%] female), 323 of 408 (79.2%) in the intervention arm (6 practices) and 326 of 409 (79.7%) in the control arm (6 practices) were mothers; mean (SD) age was 36.17 (8.67) years. The follow-up survey was completed by 367 of 408 parents (90.0%) in the intervention arm and 368 of 409 (90.0%) in the control arm. Biochemically confirmed 7-day abstinence rates were 34 of 408 (8.3%) in the intervention arm vs 26 of 409 (6.4%) in the control arm (adjusted odds ratio, 1.34; 95% CI, 0.79-2.29). Among those who completed follow-up, 177 of 367 (48.2%) in the intervention arm vs 59 of 368 (16.0%) in the control arm reported using NRT; 93 of 367 (22.8%) and 8 of 368 (2.2%), respectively, reported using quitline and/or SmokefreeTXT messaging; and 294 of 367 (80.1%) vs 258 of 368 (70.1%), respectively, reported a quit attempt in the last 3 months. Compared with control practices, intervention practices reported a greater reduction in the mean (SD) number of cigarettes smoked daily (-3.32 [5.39] vs -1.81 [5.84]) and a greater reduction in the mean (SD) percentage of daily smokers (-35.2% [2.6%] vs -25.8% [2.6%]). Conclusions and Relevance: In this cluster-randomized clinical trial of an automated intervention to treat parental tobacco use in pediatric practices, the intervention did not significantly improve the primary outcome of quit rate at 1 year. Findings in this trial demonstrated increased treatment engagement and reductions in cigarette consumption, but additional strategies are needed to improve quit rates. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04974736.
Increasing Dental Varnish Rates in a Large Pediatric Care Network: A Quality Improvement Effort
PEDIATRICS · 2025-09-18
article1st authorCorrespondingOBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to increase dental varnish application rates across a large pediatric primary care network for all children, regardless of insurance type or race and ethnicity, using a quality improvement (QI) intervention. METHODS: From July 2023 to October 2024, we implemented a multifaceted, iterative QI intervention that included electronic health record (EHR) prompts, practice-level education, maintenance of certification credit with monthly audit-and-feedback, and financial incentives. The primary outcome was the proportion of eligible preventive care visits (children aged 6 months to 5.99 years) at which dental varnish was applied. Balancing measures included application rates by insurance type and race and ethnicity. We evaluated implementation using Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework measures as follows: "Reach" (number of visits with varnish applied), "Effectiveness" (proportion of children receiving ≥1 varnish annually), "Adoption" (proportion of practices administering varnish), "Implementation" (visit-level application rate), and "Maintenance" (annual reimbursement, comparing July 2022 to June 2023 with July 2023 to June 2024). RESULTS: During the intervention, 92 056 eligible preventive care visits occurred. Varnish application increased from 3.7% preintervention to 30.5%, exceeding our 20% target. RE-AIM findings included the following: Reach, application at more than 4000 visits per month (up from ∼400); Effectiveness, more than 50% of children received varnish annually (vs 25% at baseline); Adoption, increased from 6 to all 33 practices; Implementation, 30.5% application rate; and Maintenance, reimbursement increased from $155 000 to $416 000. Improvements were consistent across child insurance and race and ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS: A system-wide, EHR-enabled QI intervention significantly improved dental varnish application for all children, regardless of insurance type or race and ethnicity. This approach may serve as a scalable model for integrating dental varnish into pediatric primary care.
Oral Nicotine Products, Nicotine Pouches, and Adolescent Vaping: A Public Health Perspective
PEDIATRICS · 2025-05-18 · 3 citations
letter1st authorCorrespondingIn this issue of Pediatrics,1 Harlow and colleagues present some of the first longitudinal data documenting associations between flavored oral nicotine product use and continued electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use among youth. E-cigarettes remain the most common tobacco product used by adolescents, and oral nicotine product use has increased in recent years.2 In their analysis of a prospective cohort of 703 California adolescents who ever used e-cigarettes, flavored oral nicotine product use at baseline, which includes both nicotine pouches and nonmedicinal nicotine gums, mints, and lozenges, was associated with a lower likelihood of continued vaping and reduced vaping frequency at a 6-month follow-up. The association was strongest among those who used nicotine pouches at baseline. Of note, youth who reported current nicotine pouch use had substantially greater baseline vaping frequency than those who reported no oral nicotine product use, and they also reported decreased likelihood of continued vaping at follow-up. With these findings, the authors suggest that using oral nicotine pouches may serve as a substitute for e-cigarettes among youth who vape. These findings raise an important question: Can oral nicotine products help end the youth vaping epidemic?To answer this question, we must first step back and consider how tobacco use affects individuals throughout their lives. A useful metaphor is to think of tobacco use as a highway: using tobacco products places an individual on a high-speed path to disability, disease, and death. Within this framework, we must consider both “on-ramps” and “off-ramps” for this highway. The importance of the on- and off-ramp is inherently different between adults and adolescents. For adults who have traveled far down this road, the off-ramp is crucial for exiting. For adolescents, the ultimate goal is to avoid the on-ramp altogether.Nicotine pouches are small, dissolvable oral nicotine products that are placed in between the lip and gum. Most available health data on oral nicotine products come from industry-funded studies.3 Independent research (ie, that not funded by the tobacco industry) indicates that, to date, mouth lesions are the most commonly reported adverse event.4 A handful of studies in adults have had mixed findings as to whether oral nicotine products may serve as an off-ramp from cigarettes. For example, a small pilot randomized-controlled trial of 45 individuals who smoked cigarettes found that those who switched to e-cigarettes or oral nicotine pouches smoked fewer cigarettes per day than those in the control group, who continued using their own cigarettes as usual.5 At the same time, another small study identified that nicotine pouches did not substantially relieve cigarette cravings for those reporting smoking daily.6Although oral nicotine pouches are not US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for cigarette smoking cessation, the FDA authorized the marketing of Zyn nicotine pouches in January 2025. Zyn, the top-selling nicotine pouch in the United States, is owned by cigarette manufacturer Philip Morris International. The FDA’s decision was primarily based on its assessment that these pouches contain substantially lower amounts of harmful constituents than cigarettes and most smokeless tobacco products. A recent scoping review reached a similar conclusion, noting that oral nicotine pouches may offer a lower-risk alternative to smoking by delivering nicotine with reduced toxicity.3 However, of particular relevance to youth, there is not enough evidence to conclude whether oral nicotine pouches are a less-harmful alternative to e-cigarettes.As of this writing, no studies have demonstrated that oral nicotine products serve as a true off-ramp from nicotine addiction. However, several aspects of oral nicotine products make them an ideal on-ramp for youth initiation. According to the 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey, 1.8% of middle and high school students reported current use of nicotine pouches,7 in comparison with 0.4% of adults.8 The higher prevalence of use among youth is not surprising, as oral nicotine pouches share characteristics with e-cigarettes that enhance youth appeal: they are discreet and come in a variety of flavors.9 These same product characteristics drove the rise in the sales of JUUL and other e-cigarettes between 2015 and 2020.10,11 Similarly, sales of nicotine pouches have increased 6-fold between 2019 and 2022.12 In both cases, rising sales were driven by social media marketing tactics targeting youth rather than marketing that might appeal to adults seeking cessation or harm-reduction options.13Another factor contributing to nicotine pouches as an on-ramp is their addictive potential. Although these products contain fewer harmful constituents compared with cigarettes and most smokeless tobacco products, they vary in nicotine concentration, sometimes exceeding levels found in conventional smokeless tobacco products.14,15 Nicotine is a highly addictive drug. Exposure during adolescence can disrupt brain development, affecting attention, learning, and memory.16 In adolescents, nicotine exposure is also associated with reduced impulse control; cognitive deficits; and increased risks of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, and depression.17 Additionally, nicotine use during adolescence may increase the risk of developing other substance-use disorders, such as cocaine-use disorder.18 From 2019 to 2022, sales of higher-concentration nicotine pouches increased more rapidly than those with lower concentrations, highlighting concerns regarding escalating nicotine dependence.12 Although youth use remains relatively low, nicotine pouches ranked as the second most commonly used tobacco product in youth tobacco surveillance for the first time, with 890 000 middle and high students reporting ever using them in 2024.2 The combination of a highly addictive drug, aggressive tobacco company marketing, and rising sales suggests that use may continue to grow, further escalating nicotine dependence.Although youth e-cigarette use has been linked to cigarette smoking initiation,19 it remains unknown whether oral nicotine pouch use carries similar risks. However, European studies have suggested that oral nicotine product use is associated with cigarette smoking. For example, a study analyzing data from 28 European countries found that individuals whose first experience with nicotine was through smokeless tobacco had similar odds of regular combustible tobacco use compared with those who first tried e-cigarettes.20 Similarly, a longitudinal study in Finland found that adolescents who experimented with snus, a smokeless tobacco product, but had never smoked cigarettes at baseline were more likely to become daily cigarette smokers in young adulthood compared with those who had never used snus.21 These findings suggest that oral nicotine products may serve as an on-ramp to subsequent use of other tobacco products among young people in certain regulatory environments.In summary, the study by Harlow and colleagues provides valuable insights on the relationship between nicotine pouch use and adolescent vaping behaviors. Although their findings support associations between nicotine pouch use and reduced vaping frequency, the authors are careful to note that their findings may be largely driven by the high proportion of participants who had not used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days and therefore may have stopped using e-cigarettes for reasons unrelated to oral nicotine product use. Overall, these findings must be considered within the broader context of tobacco control, in which the tobacco industry aggressively markets nicotine pouches with product characteristics that appeal to youth, whereas adult cigarette smokers continue to struggle with tobacco-related diseases. At this point, further research is needed to evaluate the risks and benefits of oral nicotine products.Given this uncertainty, pediatricians must continue to emphasize the well-established evidence that any tobacco product use among youth is unsafe, regardless of the form.22 Ending the youth vaping epidemic continues to require stronger regulations, effective youth prevention efforts, and evidence-based cessation interventions. The ultimate goal is not simply to change who is on the highway but to close it altogether by addressing both the on- and off-ramps of nicotine addiction.
Recent grants
Frequent coauthors
- 87 shared
Alexander G. Fiks
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
- 31 shared
Rachel Boykan
Stony Brook Children's Hospital
- 29 shared
George Dalembert
University of Pennsylvania
- 29 shared
Susan C. Walley
University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital
- 22 shared
Robert W. Grundmeier
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
- 21 shared
Robert A. Schnoll
University of Pennsylvania
- 20 shared
Alice Little Caldwell
Augusta University Health
- 19 shared
Stephanie L. Mayne
University of Pennsylvania
Awards & honors
- Senior Fellow, Leonard Davis Institute, University of Pennsy…
- Fellow, PolicyLab, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
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