Using e-cigarettes for smoking cessation: evaluation of a pilot project in the North West of England.

Introduction:
This article presents an evaluation of a pilot project in the North West of England that encouraged people to switch from conventional cigarettes to e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation intervention. The evaluation highlights the key findings from the pilot, which aimed to determine whether e-cigarettes are an effective nicotine replacement therapy and whether e-cigarette users are more likely to reduce their overall nicotine consumption in the longer term.

Key Points:

* The pilot project provided free e-cigarettes, chargers, nicotine liquid, and support to current smokers in a socially deprived area in the North West of England.
* Of the 1022 participants who engaged with the pilot, 62% had quit smoking tobacco at four weeks, and 37% (381) of those initially enrolled were confirmed to be using an e-cigarette on its own at follow-up.
* Successful quit was associated with occupation and residing in the less deprived quintiles of deprivation.
* The pilot project met and slightly exceeded NICE guidelines for smoking cessation targets.
* The study found that e-cigarettes appear to be an effective nicotine replacement therapy; however, further research is required to determine whether e-cigarette users are more likely to reduce their overall nicotine consumption in the longer term.

Main Message:
The study suggests that e-cigarettes can be an effective nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation, particularly in socially deprived areas where smoking rates are high. The pilot project met and exceeded NICE smoking cessation targets, indicating that e-cigarettes can be a useful tool in reducing smoking prevalence. However, further research is needed to determine the long-term effects of e-cigarette use and whether they help smokers reduce their overall nicotine consumption. Overall, the study provides evidence to support the use of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation intervention, particularly in disadvantaged groups.

Coffey M, Cooper-Ryan AM, Houston L, Thompson K, Cook PA. Using e-cigarettes for smoking cessation: evaluation of a pilot project in the North West of England. Perspectives in public health. 2020;140(6):351-361. doi:10.1177/1757913920912436