An Examination of Device Types and Features Used by Adult Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) Users in the PATH Study, 2015–2016

Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study to examine changes in electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use behavior over approximately one year. The study focuses on transitions in e-cigarette use and cigarette smoking status, as well as factors associated with discontinuation of e-cigarette use and cigarette smoking abstinence.

Key Points:

* The study uses data from Wave 1 and Wave 2 of the PATH Study, with a sample size of 3642 current e-cigarette users at Wave 1.
* The study examines changes in e-cigarette use frequency, transitions in e-cigarette and cigarette smoking status, and factors associated with discontinuation of e-cigarette use and cigarette smoking abstinence.
* The study finds that half of adult e-cigarette users at Wave 1 discontinued their use by Wave 2, and among dual users of e-cigarettes and cigarettes at Wave 1, daily users were more likely to report cigarette smoking abstinence at Wave 2.
* The study also finds that using a customisable device was not a significant predictor of smoking abstinence at Wave 2.
* The study identifies changes in e-cigarette device type use from Wave 1 to Wave 2, with over half of e-cigarette users with a non-customisable device reporting discontinuing use at Wave 2.

Main Message:
The study suggests that e-cigarette use patterns are highly variable, with nearly two-thirds of adult e-cigarette users either decreasing or discontinuing their use over a one-year period. The high degree of discontinuation may indicate that many e-cigarette users experiment without intention for continued or sustained use or that the products they try are not to their liking. The study also highlights the need for further research to understand the long-term patterns of e-cigarette use and their impact on population health. As an expert in regulatory matters, it is crucial to consider these findings when developing policies and regulations related to e-cigarette use.

Coleman, Blair, Joanne T. Chang, Brian L. Rostron, Sarah E. Johnson, Babita Das, and Arseima Y. Del Valle-Pinero. “An Examination of Device Types and Features Used by Adult Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) Users in the PATH Study, 2015–2016.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16, no. 13 (July 2, 2019): 2329. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16132329.