Summary
"Introduction: This study evaluated the patterns of smoking cessation at Wave 4 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study among established cigarette smokers who were also current e-cigarettes users
at Wave 3.
Methods: We assessed changes in smoking frequency at Wave 4 among established cigarette and e-cigarette users
at Wave 3. The demographics of participants were analyzed as well as e-cigarettes device types, number of
cigarettes smoked and time from waking up until the first cigarette. Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios as well
as percentage of discontinuing cigarettes use at Wave 4 were calculated for the different categories of dual users.
Results: Among dual users at Wave 3, 13.1% quit cigarette smoking at Wave 4, whereas half discontinued ecigarette
use and maintained exclusive cigarette smoking. Significant differences in the percentage of smoking
cessation were observed across demographic groups – dual users with a bachelor’s degree were more likely to
quit smoking than dual users who did not finish high school (aOR = 3.06, 95% CI: 1.17–8.00) and smokers aged
25–64 years were less likely to quit smoking than those aged 18–24 years (aOR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.28–0.86 for
smokers aged 25–44 years, and aOR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.20–0.87 for those aged 45–64). Dual users who smoked
more than 15 cigarettes per day were significantly less likely to stop smoking (aOR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.17–0.88).
Conclusion: E-cigarettes have the potential to aid in smoking cessation. Questions remain as to whether dual use
of e-cigarettes and cigarettes should be encouraged as a transitional phase on the path to smoking cessation."
Citation
Abi Nehme AM, Lou X, Yan X, Lee JH, Salloum RG. Transition to smoking cessation among dual cigarette and e-cigarette users in the population assessment of tobacco and health study, Waves 3 and 4 (2015-2017). Addictive behaviors. 2022;129:107284. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107284
