Perceived relative harm of electronic cigarettes over time and impact on subsequent use. A survey with 1-year and 2-year follow-ups

Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of a study examining the relationship between electronic cigarette use and smoking cessation. The study uses a unique longitudinal data set to assess the association between e-cigarette use while smoking with smoking cessation attempts, cessation, and reduced cigarette consumption. The study controls for frequency of use and key potential confounders.

Key Points:

* The study uses a web-based survey with a 1-year follow-up of a national general population sample of 4064 adult smokers, with 1759 followed-up.
* The main outcome measures were cessation attempt, cessation, and substantial reduction (≥50% from baseline to follow-up) of cigarettes per day (CPD).
* Compared with non-use, daily e-cigarette use at baseline was associated with increased cessation attempts, but not with cessation at follow-up.
* Non-daily use was not associated with cessation attempts or cessation.
* Daily e-cigarette use at follow-up was associated with increased odds of substantial reduction, non-daily use was not.
* Regular use of e-cigarettes while smoking appears to be associated with subsequent increases in rates of attempting to quit smoking and reducing smoking, but not with smoking cessation.
* Non-daily use of e-cigarettes while smoking is not associated with quit attempts, cessation, or reduced smoking.

Main Message:
The study suggests that daily use of electronic cigarettes while smoking is associated with increased attempts to quit smoking and reducing smoking, but not with smoking cessation. Non-daily use of e-cigarettes while smoking is not associated with quit attempts, cessation, or reduced smoking. These findings highlight the importance of differentiating ever use or very occasional use from regular use in assessing the effects of e-cigarette use on smoking behavior.

Brose, Leonie S., Jamie Brown, Sara C. Hitchman, and Ann McNeill. “Perceived Relative Harm of Electronic Cigarettes over Time and Impact on Subsequent Use. A Survey with 1-Year and 2-Year Follow-Ups.” Drug and Alcohol Dependence 157 (December 2015): 106–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.10.014.