Longitudinal transition outcomes among adult dual users of e-cigarettes and cigarettes with the intention to quit in the United States: PaTh Study (2013-2018).

Introduction:
This text discusses a study examining transition outcomes among adult dual users of e-cigarettes and cigarettes with the intention to quit (ITq) compared to mono cigarette smokers with ITq. The study aims to contribute to the understanding of the role of e-cigarettes in smoking cessation and harm reduction.

Key Points:

* The study used data from the Population assessment of Tobacco and health (PaTh) Study, a nationally representative, longitudinal cohort study of US adults.
* Dual users with ITq were less likely to transition to cessation or mono cigarette use compared to mono cigarette smokers with ITq.
* The associations were slightly attenuated after adjusting for potential confounders, but the overall pattern remained the same.
* The study highlights the concern that e-cigarettes may hinder rather than facilitate cigarette smoking cessation in a real-world scenario.
* The results are comparable to previous research that found no evidence of e-cigarettes' help in quitting smoking.
* The study's findings suggest that e-cigarettes should be available within a clinical smoking cessation setting rather than as a free consumer product.
* The authors emphasize the need for further research to disentangle the nuances of the population-level effect of e-cigarettes compared to clinical randomized trial settings and the role of e-cigarettes in society.

Main Message:
The study highlights the need for caution when considering e-cigarettes' role in smoking cessation and harm reduction. While e-cigarettes may have potential value for cessation in clinical trials, the real-world evidence suggests that they may hinder rather than facilitate cigarette smoking cessation. Therefore, e-cigarettes should be available within a clinical smoking cessation setting rather than as a free consumer product. Further research is necessary to understand the nuances of the population-level effect of e-cigarettes compared to clinical randomized trial settings and the role of e-cigarettes in society.

Osibogun O, Bursac Z, Maziak W. Longitudinal transition outcomes among adult dual users of e-cigarettes and cigarettes with the intention to quit in the United States: PaTh Study (2013-2018). Preventive medicine reports. 2022;26:101750. doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.101750