Experimentation with e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid: a cross-sectional study in 28 European Union member states

Introduction:
This text is a summary of a cross-sectional study examining the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) as a smoking cessation aid in the European Union (EU). The study aims to describe patterns of e-cigarette use for smoking cessation, their self-reported impact on smoking cessation, and factors associated with successful quitting. The study uses data from the Special Eurobarometer survey collected in 2014 from all 28 EU member states.

Key Points:

* E-cigarettes were often experimented with as a cessation aid, especially among younger smokers and those who reported financial difficulties.
* In total, 10.6% of those who had ever attempted to quit smoking and 27.4% of those who did so using a cessation aid had experimented with e-cigarettes as a cessation aid.
* Among those who had used e-cigarettes as a cessation aid, those with higher education were more likely to have been successful in quitting.
* There was great variation in trends of use of e-cigarettes as cessation aids between member states.
* The study has a large and representative sample of respondents aged 15 years and older across 28 EU member states.
* Data were self-reported and could not be verified with objective measurements.
* The study design was cross-sectional; therefore, causal interpretations should be made with caution.

Main Message:
The study highlights the increasing trend of e-cigarette use as a smoking cessation aid in the EU, with certain population groups more likely to experiment with them as cessation aids. However, the study also emphasizes the need for further research on the potential population impact of these trends and the effectiveness of e-cigarettes in promoting smoking cessation. The study's findings can inform policies and planning in tobacco control, particularly in understanding the potential benefits and drawbacks of e-cigarette use for smoking cessation.

Filippidis, Filippos T, Anthony A Laverty, and Constantine I Vardavas. “Experimentation with E-Cigarettes as a Smoking Cessation Aid: A Cross-Sectional Study in 28 European Union Member States.” BMJ Open 6, no. 10 (October 2016): e012084. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2016-012084.