Attitudes toward E-Cigarettes, Reasons for Initiating E-Cigarette Use, and Changes in Smoking Behavior after Initiation: A Pilot Longitudinal Study of Regular Cigarette Smokers

Introduction:
This text is a summary of a scientific study published in the Open Journal of Preventive Medicine in 2014. The study examines the attitudes, behaviors, and experiences of regular cigarette smokers who have recently started using e-cigarettes. The study aims to provide insights into the potential impact of e-cigarettes on smoking behavior and health.

Key Points:

* The study recruited regular smokers who purchased e-cigarettes for the first time at an e-cigarette store.
* Participants completed mail-based surveys and provided saliva samples at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks.
* The study found that participants reduced their cigarette consumption and reported improvements in health after starting to use e-cigarettes.
* Most participants believed that e-cigarettes have fewer health risks than regular cigarettes and that they can help smokers quit or reduce their cigarette consumption.
* Participants had varying levels of nicotine strength in their e-cigarettes and reduced their use of e-cigarettes over time.
* The study found no significant decrease in cotinine levels, a biomarker of nicotine exposure, after starting to use e-cigarettes.
* Participants generally reported positive experiences with e-cigarettes compared to regular cigarettes and other cessation aids.
* The study highlights the need for further research on the long-term impact of e-cigarette use on smoking behavior and health.

Main Message:
The study provides valuable insights into the attitudes, behaviors, and experiences of regular cigarette smokers who have recently started using e-cigarettes. The findings suggest that e-cigarettes may help some smokers reduce their cigarette consumption and improve their health. However, the study also highlights the need for further research on the long-term impact of e-cigarette use on smoking behavior and health. It is important for regulators to consider these findings when developing policies around e-cigarettes to ensure that they are based on sound scientific evidence.

Berg, Carla J., Dana Boyd Barr, Erin Stratton, Cam Escoffery, and Michelle Kegler. “Attitudes toward E-Cigarettes, Reasons for Initiating E-Cigarette Use, and Changes in Smoking Behavior after Initiation: A Pilot Longitudinal Study of Regular Cigarette Smokers.” Open Journal of Preventive Medicine 04, no. 10 (2014): 789–800. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojpm.2014.410089.