Effectiveness of ENDS, NRT and medication for smoking cessation among cigarette-only users: a longitudinal analysis of PaTh Study wave 3 (2015-2016) and 4 (2016-2017), adult data.

Introduction:
This text presents a longitudinal analysis of data from the Population assessment of Tobacco and health (PaTh) Study, comparing the cigarette cessation rates for electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), and non-nicotine medication among cigarette-only users. The study also examines the association between quitting smoking and the methods used, controlling for potential confounding factors.

Key Points:

* The study included adult respondents from wave 3 (2015-2016) and wave 4 (2016-2017) of the PaTh Study.
* Established cigarette-only users in wave 3 who used ENDS, NRT, non-nicotine medication, or a combination of NRT and non-nicotine medication to quit smoking between wave 3 and 4 were included.
* Cessation was defined as being a former cigarette smoker in wave 4.
* Covariates included age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, household income, marital status, relying on friend or family support for cigarette quit attempt, living with a person who smokes, motivation to quit, and cigarette dependence.
* The analysis was performed using STaTa V.15.1 and the PaTh Study population weights were used to adjust for the complex study design.
* The study found no differences in cigarette cessation rates between ENDS, NRT, and non-nicotine medication users.
* among participants who used ENDS to quit smoking, none became ENDS-only users in wave 4, while 37.6% became dual users of ENDS and cigarettes.

Main Message:
The study suggests that there is no significant difference in cigarette cessation rates between ENDS, NRT, and non-nicotine medication among cigarette-only users. Given the uncertainty about the long-term health effects of ENDS and the likelihood of becoming dual users, people who smoke and need assistance quitting should be encouraged to use current Food and Drug administration-approved cessation methods until more effective methods are developed.

Kaplan B, Galiatsatos P, Breland a, Eissenberg T, Cohen JE. Effectiveness of ENDS, NRT and medication for smoking cessation among cigarette-only users: a longitudinal analysis of PaTh Study wave 3 (2015-2016) and 4 (2016-2017), adult data. Tobacco control. 2023;32(3):302-307. doi:10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2020-056448