E-Cigarette Flavors and Frequency of E-Cigarette Use among adult Dual Users Who attempt to quit Cigarette Smoking in the United States: Longitudinal Findings from the PaTh Study 2015/16-2016/17.

Introduction:
This text discusses a study examining the relationship between e-cigarette flavor use and frequency of e-cigarette use among adult dual users who attempted to quit cigarette smoking in the United States. The study uses data from the Population assessment of Tobacco and health (PaTh) Study from 2015/16-2016/17.

Key Points:

* The study found that dual users who attempted to quit smoking had greater odds of frequent e-cigarette use at follow-up when they used only non-tobacco, non-menthol/mint flavor than when they used only tobacco flavor as their regular/last e-cigarette flavor.
* however, these findings were not statistically significant when adjusted for factors including e-cigarette device type.
* Past 30-day e-cigarette flavor use results were generally similar, although frequent e-cigarette use at follow-up was highest among those who used any combination of tobacco, menthol/mint, or other flavors.
* The study also found that e-cigarette device type was significantly associated with frequent e-cigarette use, with open system users having higher odds of frequent use at follow-up than cartridge device type users.
* The sample size precluded the examination of whether associations differed by frequency of e-cigarette use at baseline.
* The study did not assess e-cigarette use during the cigarette quit attempt or evaluate whether flavors relate to intentions to quit.
* Data were collected prior to JUUL or Puff Bar brands becoming popular in the U.S.

Main Message:
The study provides important insights into the relationship between e-cigarette flavor use and frequency of e-cigarette use among adult dual users who attempted to quit cigarette smoking. While the study found that dual users who used only non-tobacco, non-menthol/mint flavor as their regular/last e-cigarette flavor had greater odds of frequent e-cigarette use at follow-up, these findings were not statistically significant when adjusted for other factors, including e-cigarette device type. The study also highlights the need for further research to disentangle how e-cigarette characteristics uniquely impact e-cigarette use frequency and smoking cessation/sustained use. Overall, the study adds large-scale population-based data to the literature that begins to address a possible mechanism of action behind other studies’ conclusions about the use of e-cigarettes to help with smoking cessation.

Kasza Ka, Goniewicz ML, Edwards KC, et al. E-Cigarette Flavors and Frequency of E-Cigarette Use among adult Dual Users Who attempt to quit Cigarette Smoking in the United States: Longitudinal Findings from the PaTh Study 2015/16-2016/17. International journal of environmental research and public health. 2021;18(8). doi:10.3390/ijerph18084373