Is dual use of nicotine products and cigarettes associated with smoking reduction and cessation behaviours?

Introduction:
This text is a summary of a research study examining the relationship between e-cigarette use and smoking cessation. It explores the use of e-cigarettes compared to other nicotine replacement products, such as over-the-counter nicotine replacement therapy (OTC NRT), and its impact on smoking reduction, quit attempts, and use of evidence-based cessation aids. The study also looks at the association between e-cigarette use and behavioral support or prescription medication during quit attempts.

Key Points:

* The study is based on data from the Smoking Toolkit Study, a national study of smoking prevalence and patterns in England.
* The study focuses on smokers who reported dual e-cigarette use or dual OTC NRT use at baseline.
* The study examines changes in cigarette consumption, quit attempts, and use of evidence-based cessation aids over a 6-month follow-up period.
* The study found that dual e-cigarette users smoked fewer cigarettes per day at follow-up compared to dual OTC NRT users.
* however, dual e-cigarette users were less likely to make a quit attempt at follow-up compared to dual OTC NRT users.
* Use of evidence-based cessation aids did not differ significantly between dual e-cigarette users and dual OTC NRT users who attempted to quit.
* Dual e-cigarette users were less likely to report using behavioral support or prescription medication during their most recent quit attempt.

Main Message:
The study suggests that e-cigarette use may help reduce cigarette consumption among smokers, but it could also discourage quit attempts. The use of e-cigarettes did not appear to undermine the use of evidence-based cessation aids during quit attempts, but dual e-cigarette users were less likely to use behavioral support or prescription medication during their most recent quit attempt. These findings highlight the complex relationship between e-cigarette use and smoking cessation and the need for further research to better understand this relationship and its implications for public health.

Jackson SE, Farrow E, Brown J, Shahab L. Is dual use of nicotine products and cigarettes associated with smoking reduction and cessation behaviours? a prospective study in England. BMJ open. 2020;10(3):1. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2019-036055