analyzing Trajectories of acute Cigarette Reduction Post-Introduction of an E-Cigarette Using Ecological Momentary assessment Data.

Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of a randomized controlled trial examining the impact of electronic cigarettes (ECs) on reducing combustible cigarette (CC) use. The study followed 84 adult smokers who were asked to substitute an EC for at least half of their CCs over a 3-week period. The study used longitudinal trajectory analysis to identify CPD reduction classes and evaluated whether certain baseline characteristics affected class assignment.

Key Points:

* The study identified four distinct, linear trajectories based on daily CC use during the 3-week intervention.
* higher readiness to quit smoking, prior successful quit attempts, and lower baseline CC consumption were associated with assignment into "more successful" CC reduction classes.
* The study demonstrates that a fine-grained trajectory approach can be applied to examine switching patterns in the critical first weeks of an attempt.
* Participants were recruited through an IRB-approved study at the NYU Langone School of Medicine.
* Participants were randomized into nicotine and placebo EC devices.
* Participants received text messages four times daily asking about CC and EC consumption.
* Baseline characteristics, including age, number of years smoked, and cigarettes smoked per day at baseline, were evaluated for common patterns within each trajectory class.
* The study found that certain individuals may be more likely to experience one form of smoking behavioral change versus another.

Main Message:
The study suggests that ECs may be a useful mechanism to promote CC reduction. By using a fine-grained trajectory approach, the study was able to identify distinct switching patterns in the critical first weeks of an attempt. higher readiness to quit smoking, prior successful quit attempts, and lower baseline CC consumption were associated with "more successful" CC reduction classes. These findings highlight the potential benefits of ECs in reducing CC use and the importance of considering individual differences in smoking behavior when developing harm reduction strategies.

Guttentag a, Tseng TY, Shelley D, Kirchner T. analyzing Trajectories of acute Cigarette Reduction Post-Introduction of an E-Cigarette Using Ecological Momentary assessment Data. International journal of environmental research and public health. 2022;19(12). doi:10.3390/ijerph19127452