Electronic Cigarette Use and Smoking Abstinence in Japan: A Cross-Sectional Study of Quitting Methods

Introduction:
This text summarizes a cross-sectional study examining the relationship between electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use and smoking cessation among smokers in Japan. The study aims to assess the effectiveness of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool compared to other methods, including nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and smoking cessation therapy. The study also adjusts for potential confounding factors, such as gender, age, and medical history.

Key Points:

* The study included 798 smokers aged 20-69 years who smoked within the previous 5 years and had intended to quit smoking.
* E-cigarette use was negatively associated with smoking cessation (OR = 0.632; 95% CI = 0.414--0.964) after adjusting for gender, age, health-related factors, and other quitting methods.
* Smoking cessation therapy, specifically varenicline, was significantly associated with smoking cessation (OR = 1.885; 95% CI = 1.018--3.492) in the same model.
* The study also found that smokers who attempted to quit with e-cigarettes were less likely to succeed than those who chose over-the-counter NRT or tried to quit without medical assistance.
* The sample size was relatively small, and data were self-reported without validation.
* The study did not measure e-cigarette use intensity/duration and type, and it is unclear whether the association between smoking cessation therapy with varenicline and quitting is due to the drug's efficacy or the comprehensive coaching process.

Main Message:
The study's main message is that e-cigarette use appears to have low efficacy for smoking cessation among smokers in Japan. While smoking cessation therapy, specifically varenicline, was significantly associated with smoking cessation, e-cigarette use was negatively associated with quitting. Therefore, any recommendation or promotion of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid should be made with caution, as there is no present scientific consensus on their beneficiality for quitting smoking. Without strong evidence that e-cigarettes are effective in helping people quit smoking, recommending them in the current manner is premature.

Hirano, Tomoyasu, Takahiro Tabuchi, Rika Nakahara, Naoki Kunugita, and Yumiko Mochizuki-Kobayashi. “Electronic Cigarette Use and Smoking Abstinence in Japan: A Cross-Sectional Study of Quitting Methods.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 14, no. 2 (February 17, 2017): 202. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14020202.