Summary
Introduction:
This article presents a descriptive analysis of transitions from smoking to electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) use, using data from a daily diary investigation. The study aims to examine patterns in smoking and ENDS use over an extended period of time in people who smoked and had never previously made a successful quit attempt using an ENDS.
Key Points:
* The study provided participants with a second-generation ENDS device at the start of their quit attempt and asked them to complete smartphone-based daily diary surveys assessing smoking and ENDS use.
* The analysis focused on 45 participants who were purposively selected based on age, gender, ethnicities, and cigarettes per day.
* The study found that transitions from smoking to ENDS use may involve considerable periods of dual use, which is likely to be dynamic and potentially sustained over several months.
* The considerable variety observed within and between study participants suggests that high variability is typical rather than exceptional.
Main Message:
The study highlights the complexity of transitions from smoking to ENDS use and the importance of considering individual variability in smoking and ENDS use patterns. The results suggest that high variability is typical rather than exceptional and that transitions from smoking to ENDS use may involve considerable periods of dual use, which is likely to be dynamic and potentially sustained over several months. These findings have important implications for public health policy and the development of interventions to support smoking cessation.
Citation
Conner TS, Zeng J, Blank ML, He V, Hoek J. A Descriptive Analysis of Transitions from Smoking to Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) Use: A Daily Diary Investigation. International journal of environmental research and public health. 2021;18(12). doi:10.3390/ijerph18126301
