A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Nicotine Vaping Products With Nicotine Replacement Therapy for Smoking Cessation Following Residential Detoxification.

Introduction: The QuitNic pilot trial aimed to test the feasibility of providing a nicotine vaping
product (NVP) compared with combination nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to smokers upon
discharge from a smoke-free residential substance use disorder (SUD) treatment service.
Methods: QuitNic was a pragmatic two-arm randomized controlled trial. At discharge from residential
withdrawal, 100 clients received telephone Quitline behavioral support and either 12-week
supply of NRT or an NVP. Treatment adherence and acceptability, self-reported abstinence, cigarettes
smoked per day (CPD), frequency of cravings, and severity of withdrawal symptoms were
assessed at 6 and 12 weeks. Results are reported for complete cases and for abstinence outcomes,
penalized imputation results are reported where missing is assumed smoking.
Results: Retention on was 63% at 6 weeks and 50% at 12 weeks. At 12 weeks, 68% of the NRT
group reported using combination NRT while 96% of the NVP group used the device. Acceptability
ratings for the products were high in both groups. At 12 weeks, 14% of the NVP group and 18% of
the NRT group reported not smoking at all in the last 7 days. Mean CPD among continued smokers
decreased significantly between baseline to 12 weeks in both groups; from 19.91 to 4.72 for the
NVP group (p < .001) and from 20.88 to 5.52 in the NRT group (p < .001). Cravings and withdrawal
symptoms significantly decreased for both groups.

Bonevski B, Manning V, Wynne O, et al. QuitNic: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Nicotine Vaping Products With Nicotine Replacement Therapy for Smoking Cessation Following Residential Detoxification. Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. 2021;23(3):462-470. doi:10.1093/ntr/ntaa143