Views from the Coalface: What Do English Stop Smoking Service Personnel Think about E-Cigarettes?

Introduction:
This article reports on a study examining the views and knowledge of English Stop Smoking Service (SSS) personnel regarding e-cigarettes. The study found that while a small proportion of SSS clients are using e-cigarettes to quit smoking, most SSS personnel are waiting for licensed e-cigarettes before recommending them to clients. There is also a lack of consensus among SSS personnel regarding the impact of e-cigarettes on the recent reduction in SSS use.

Key Points:

* The study analyzed data from the local stop smoking services quarterly monitoring returns and an online survey of English SSS practitioners, managers, and commissioners.
* The monitoring data showed that 2% of clients were using e-cigarettes to quit smoking and had similar quit rates to clients using Varenicline.
* Most SSS personnel are waiting for licensed e-cigarettes to become available before recommending them to clients, but less than a quarter view e-cigarettes as "a good thing."
* Managers and commissioners were more positive about e-cigarettes than practitioners.
* SSS personnel working for the NHS were less positive about e-cigarettes than those employed elsewhere.
* E-cigarettes were cited as the most important reason for the recent decline in service footfall.
* The study suggests that dissemination of information about e-cigarettes needs to be examined and services should address their stance on e-cigarettes with some urgency.

Main Message:
The main message of this study is that there is a need for clear and consistent information on e-cigarettes to be disseminated to SSS personnel. The lack of consensus and knowledge regarding e-cigarettes among SSS personnel may be contributing to the recent decline in service footfall. The study suggests that services should address their stance on e-cigarettes with some urgency and ensure that personnel are equipped with the necessary knowledge and information to advise clients on the use of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool.

Hiscock, Rosemary, Linda Bauld, Deborah Arnott, Martin Dockrell, Louise Ross, and Andy McEwen. “Views from the Coalface: What Do English Stop Smoking Service Personnel Think about E-Cigarettes?” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 12, no. 12 (December 21, 2015): 16157–67. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph121215048.