Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems

Abstract

Background Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) initially emerged in 2003 and have since become widely available globally, particularly over the Internet. Purpose Data on ENDS usage patterns are limited. The current paper examines patterns of ENDS awareness, use, and product-associated beliefs among current and former smokers in four countries. Methods Data come from Wave 8 of the International Tobacco Control Four-Country Survey, collected July 2010 to June 2011 and analyzed through June 2012. Respondents included 5939 current and former smokers in Canada (n=1581); the U.S. (n=1520); the United Kingdom (UK; n=1325); and Australia (n=1513). Results Overall, 46.6% were aware of ENDS (U.S.: 73%, UK: 54%, Canada: 40%, Australia: 20%); 7.6% had tried ENDS (16% of those aware of ENDS); and 2.9% were current users (39% of triers). 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% reported using ENDS because they were considered less harmful than traditional cigarettes; 75.4% stated that they used ENDS to help them reduce their smoking; and 85.1% reported using ENDS to help them quit smoking. Conclusions Awareness of ENDS is high, especially in countries where they are legal (i.e., the U.S. and UK). Because trial was associated with nondaily smoking and a desire to quit smoking, ENDS may have potential to serve as a cessation aid.

Cigarette Smokers’ Use of Unconventional Tobacco Products and Associations With Quitting Activity: Findings From the ITC-4 U.S. Cohort

“…Shiffman, Pillitteri, Burton, and Di Marino (2004) did show that simulated ads describing Eclipse reduced intentions to quit among smokers, and Hughes, Keely, and Callas (2005) showed that Eclipse users were no more or less likely to have quit at 6 months follow-up compared with other smokers. More recently, several studies have evaluated the use of e-cigarettes by cigarette smokers, which indicate that smokers report using them to help quit or cut down on smoking (Adkison et al, 2013;Etter, 2010;Etter & Bullen, 2011;Pearson, Richardson, Niaura, Vallone, & Abrams, 2012;Pokhrel, Fagan, Little, Kawamoto, & Herzog, 2013;Regan, Promoff, Dube, & Arrazola, 2013;Vickerman, Carpenter, Altman, Nash, & Zbikowski, 2013). None of the unconventional tobacco products evaluated in this study have been approved as smoking cessation aids.…”

Electronic cigarette use as an aid to quit smoking in the representative Italian population PASSI survey

“…Importantly, the quality of the evidence in support of e-cigarettes' effectiveness in helping smokers quit, according to the GRADE system, was again assessed as very low to low (Malas et al, 2016). Considering only studies with a moderate or strong quality score (Malas et al, 2016), 10 studies other than RCTs examined the relationship between e-cigarette use and smoking status in the real world by surveying regular e-cigarette users Goniewicz et al, 2013;Dawkins et al, 2013;Polosa et al, 2014;Adriaens et al, 2014;Adkison et al, 2013;Christensen et al, 2014;Brown et al, 2014;Biener and Hargraves, 2015). Samples in 5 studies were not representative, and results have to be interpreted with caution Lechner et al, 2015;Goniewicz et al, 2013;Dawkins et al, 2013;Polosa et al, 2014).…”

Characteristics of e-cigarette users and their perceptions of the benefits, harms and risks of e-cigarette use: survey results from a convenience sample in Ottawa, Canada

“…18,19 Although e-cigarette awareness and use are increasing in Canada, there have been few attempts to describe e-cigarette users. 9,12,20,21 An online survey of 1188 young adults found that 43% were aware of e-cigarettes and 5.7% were current e-cigarette users. 12 This same study also revealed that 80% of current cigarette smokers reported an interest in trying e-cigarettes to help them quit smoking or to use in places where smoking is banned.…”