How do Europeans quit using tobacco, e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products? A cross-sectional analysis in 28 European countries

Abstract

ObjectivesWhile smoking tobacco remains a substantial cause of harm in Europe, novel products such as electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes (ECs) and heated tobacco products (HTPs) have entered the market recently. While debate still persists over the role of these novel products, they are now in widespread use. This study aimed to explore the prevalence and methods of attempts to quit EC and HTP.SettingWe analysed the 2020 Eurobarometer survey, which collected data in 28 European countries.ParticipantsA representative sample of individuals residing in these countries aged ≥15 years.Primary and secondary outcome measuresMultilevel regression analyses were performed to assess differences in quit attempts and cessation methods among tobacco smokers and exclusive EC/HTP users separately.Results51.1% of current tobacco smokers and 27.1% of exclusive EC or HTP users reported having ever made a quit attempt. The majority of former and current smokers (75.8%) who made a quit attempt did so unassisted, with 28.8% reporting at least one attempt using a cessation aid. The most popular cessation aids were nicotine replacement therapy or other medication (13.4%) and ECs (11.3%). 58.8% of exclusive EC or HTP users who had made a quit attempt did so unassisted, with 39.5% reporting the use of a cessation aid.ConclusionMost EC and HTP users in Europe try to quit unassisted, although more of them report the use of a cessation aid compared with tobacco smokers. Cessation support services should take into consideration the increasing numbers of users of EC and HTP who may be trying to quit.

Prevalence, lived experiences and user profiles in e-cigarette use: A mixed methods study among French college students

“…The most frequently used aids were: first pharmacotherapy and second e-cigarettes. Those aged 15-24 were less likely to use pharmacotherapy and more likely to use e-cigarettes than those aged �55 years [11]. These results are roughly comparable to what was described by the same survey in 2017 [12].…”

Heated tobacco product use frequency, smoking quit attempts, and smoking reduction among Mexican adult smokers

“…Intentions to quit smoking are a key precursor to quitting smoking cessation; hence, it is important to evaluate the effects of HTP use among those who intend to quit 2 . While 4.9% of HTP users in our study intended to quit, other studies have also reported relatively lower proportions of smokers who use HTPs and plan to quit smoking; for instance, 4.3% in Korea 10 and 16.9% in Europe 34 . Moreover, in this last study, only 2% of smokers who intend to quit smoking reported using HTPs as a cessation aid 34 .…”

“…While 4.9% of HTP users in our study intended to quit, other studies have also reported relatively lower proportions of smokers who use HTPs and plan to quit smoking; for instance, 4.3% in Korea 10 and 16.9% in Europe 34 . Moreover, in this last study, only 2% of smokers who intend to quit smoking reported using HTPs as a cessation aid 34 . In our study, individuals who reported both quit intentions and HTP use were no more likely to report SQAs of any duration (i.e.…”

“…<30 days; ≥30 days) or changes in cigarette smoking frequency compared to those who reported quitting intentions but were not HTP users. These could suggest that some individuals who desire to quit smoking may ultimately abandon their efforts to quit smoking 33 or consider exploring alternative methods to HTPs 34 . Thus, evaluating changes in the frequency of e-cigarette use or quitting e-cigarettes among both current users and non-users of IQOS could be a future area of research.…”

Beating Cancer Inequalities in the EU

“…In the choice of a harmonised FoP labelling system, the European Public Health Association (EUPHA) and IARC recommend a simple graded traffic-light labelling system such as the Nutri-Score, which is in use in several European countries (Box 3.7) (EHPHA, 2023 [180]; IARC, 2021 [181]). The second most common labelling system in Europe is the Keyhole marking for healthy products, established in Sweden in 1989 and subsequently adopted in Denmark, Lithuania, Norway and Iceland.…”