Four-country study suggests e-cigarettes might work as cessation aids

Researchers in Australia, Canada, the UK and the US have concluded that electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) might have the potential to serve as cessation aids, according to a paper published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

The researchers set out to examine patterns of ENDS awareness, use, and product-associated beliefs among current and former smokers in four countries.

Their data, which was collected between July 2010 and June 2011, and analyzed through June 2012, came from studying 5,939 current and former smokers in Canada (1,581), the US (1,520); the UK (1,325); and Australia (1,513).

‘Overall, 46.6 per cent were aware of ENDS (US: 73 per cent, UK: 54 per cent, Canada: 40 per cent, Australia: 20 per cent); 7.6 per cent had tried ENDS (16 per cent of those aware of ENDS); and 2.9 per cent were current users (39 per cent of triers),’ according the Results section of an abstract of the paper.

‘Awareness of ENDS was higher among younger, non-minority smokers with higher incomes who were heavier smokers.

‘Prevalence of trying ENDS was higher among younger, nondaily smokers with a high income and among those who perceived ENDS as less harmful than traditional cigarettes.

‘Current use was higher among both nondaily and heavy (≥20 cigarettes per day) smokers.

‘In all, 79.8 per cent reported using ENDS because they were considered less harmful than traditional cigarettes; 75.4 per cent stated that they used ENDS to help them reduce their smoking; and 85.1 per cent reported using ENDS to help them quit smoking.’

The researchers concluded that the awareness of ENDS was high, especially in countries where they were legal – the US and UK.

‘Because trial was associated with nondaily smoking and a desire to quit smoking, ENDS may have the potential to serve as a cessation aid,’ they said.