E-cigarettes, quit attempts, and smoking cessation: 6-month follow-up

Background and objectives: Existing evidence on the effect of e-cigarette use on smoking cessation is inconsistent. This may stem from differences in how vaping is defined. The objective of this study was to assess whether regular e-cigarette use among smokers is associated with smoking cessation. Method: An online survey in mainland France with a 6-month follow-up. A sample of 2,057 individuals aged 15 to 85 was recruited via an access panel and participated in the 6-month follow-up. At recruitment, 1,805 were exclusive tobacco smokers and 252 were vape-smokers (smokers who regularly use an e-cigarette). The three main indicators measured at 6 months were: a reduction of at least 50% in the number of cigarettes smoked per day, quit attempts lasting at least 7 days, and smoking cessation for at least 7 days at the time of the 6-month follow-up. Logistic regressions were performed to model these outcomes based on regular e-cigarette use at enrollment, adjusted for socioeconomic variables and tobacco use characteristics. Results: E-cigarette users were more likely than exclusive cigarette smokers to have halved their daily cigarette consumption within 6 months (25.9% vs. 11.2%, p<0.001, ORa=2.6, 95% CI: [1.8–3.8]). They had also attempted to quit for at least 7 days more often (22.8% vs. 10.9%, p<0.001, ORa=1.8 [1.2-2.6]). No significant difference was observed in 7-day to 6-month quit rates (12.5% vs. 9.5%, p=0.18, ORa=1.2 [0.8-1.9]). Conclusion: Among smokers, those who regularly used e-cigarettes were more likely to have attempted to quit smoking and reduced their cigarette consumption at the 6-month follow-up. The effectiveness of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation remains a subject of debate.

Author(s): Pasquereau A, Guignard R, Andler R, Nguyen Thanh V

Publishing year: 2017

Pages: 559-67

Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin, 2017, n° 26, p. 559-67

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