quitting electronic cigarettes: Factors associated with quitting and quit attempts in long-term users.

Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of a study examining the factors associated with quitting electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) among exclusive, long-term users. The study surveyed participants in 2017 and 2019, with an average follow-up period of 2.4 years. The results highlight the characteristics and behaviors of e-cigarette users who intend to quit, have tried to quit, and have successfully quit.

Key Points:

* The study included 221 participants who were exclusive e-cigarette users at the baseline survey and answered all relevant questions about e-cigarettes, smoking, and quit attempts at the follow-up survey.
* at baseline, 92.8% of participants did not intend to quit using e-cigarettes. at follow-up, 88.7% continued exclusive e-cigarette use, 7.7% quit e-cigarettes, 3.6% became dual users, and none became exclusive smokers.
* Predictors of quitting e-cigarettes included no previous cigarette smoking, lower Penn State Electronic Cigarette Dependence Index score, and lower number of devices used per day.
* Intending to quit e-cigarettes at baseline was not predictive of quitting at follow-up.
* at follow-up, 25.8% of participants had tried to quit e-cigarettes. Overall predictors of trying to quit included interest in quitting at baseline and using a drip-fed atomizer.
* Users who tried to quit reported using various quitting techniques, such as quitting abruptly, tapering the nicotine concentration of e-liquid, reducing frequency of e-cigarette use, and using nicotine replacement therapy or medications.
* E-cigarette quitting behaviors were associated with factors like atomizer type, number of devices used, ever smoking cigarettes, e-cigarette dependence, and intention to quit e-cigarettes.

Main Message:
The study reveals that long-term exclusive e-cigarette users generally have little interest in stopping e-cigarette use. however, specific user characteristics and behaviors, such as device type, smoking history, e-cigarette dependence, number of devices used, and intention to quit, are associated with e-cigarette quitting behaviors. The findings can inform regulatory measures and cessation strategies to help e-cigarette users quit or reduce their usage.

Sobieski E, Yingst J, Foulds J. quitting electronic cigarettes: Factors associated with quitting and quit attempts in long-term users. addictive behaviors. 2022;127:107220. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107220