Motivations and methods of dual users to quit vaping: Survey findings from adults who use electronic and combustible cigarettes

Abstract

strategies used (i.e. methods) to quit ECs among adults who use both ECs and CCs. Discontinuing EC use is common among adult CC smokers who try using ECs 3-5. In a large national study of US adults, over half (56%) of current CC smokers who started using ECs later discontinued ECs 4 and findings were similar in a European cohort study with a two year follow-up 5. Much of the prior research on stopping ECs includes adults who tried and subsequently discontinued ECs in the absence of self-defined regular EC use or dependence 4,8. Among adults with a history of regular EC use, the most ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION Most adults who use electronic cigarettes (ECs) also smoke combustible cigarettes (CCs). Quitting ECs appears common among dual users but little is known regarding adult dual users' motivations and methods to quit ECs or how this relates to quitting CCs. METHODS We used Amazon Mechanical Turk, a web-based crowd-sourcing service, to survey 366 US adults with a history of regular EC and CC use. This analysis examined motivations and methods to quit both products among a subset of 204 (55.7%) respondents with dual use and a history of one or more attempts to quit ECs. RESULTS Most respondents (95%) were using ECs at the time of this survey and had a lifetime median of five EC quit attempts. The most common motivations to quit ECs were health (74%), money/cost (45%), and to reduce risk of COVID-19 (25%). The most common EC quit methods were cutting down (68%), getting advice from a doctor (28%), quitting 'cold turkey' (24%), nicotine replacement therapy (24%), and switching to ECs with less nicotine (24%). Most motivations and methods to quit ECs and CCs were moderately to highly correlated, suggesting similarity in dual users' approach to quitting the two products. CONCLUSIONS Dual users had a range of motivations and methods to quit ECs, most of which were similar to their motivations and methods to quit CCs. These findings support the need to develop treatment for adults motivated to quit ECs and demonstrate that dual users may currently engage in similar strategies to quit both products.

Scoping review of guidance on cessation interventions for electronic cigarettes and dual electronic and combustible cigarettes use

“…There is growing evidence that e-cigarette users and dual users are seeking help to quit e-cigarette use, because of health concerns, including increased risk of harm from COVID-19, costs and concerns about the addictive potential of vaping. 23 – 27 Moreover, dual users were found to report similar levels of interest in quitting e-cigarettes as exclusive vapers 28 and more attempts to quit smoking than exclusive smokers. 29 However, our understanding of the process of vaping cessation and dual use cessation is very limited, and evidence-based guidelines for vaping cessation interventions are yet to be developed.…”

Varenicline and counseling for vaping cessation: a double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial

“…In addition to increasing concerns about the potential health risks of vaping, growing interest in quitting vaping has also been linked to the experience of some adverse physical effects (e.g., dry mouth, cough), the rising cost of vaping, and the need to break dependence on vaping products [ 20 – 22 ].…”

E-Cigarette Quit Attempts and Experiences in a Convenience Sample of Adult Users

“…Few studies have explored how e-cigarette users attempt to quit vaping, and what their quit experiences are like. A cross-sectional survey of dual e-cigarette and combustible cigarette users found that e-cigarette users had a lifetime median of five e-cigarette quit attempts, and that the most common methods used were cutting down (68%), advice from a doctor (28%), and quitting "cold turkey (24%)" [10]. Preliminary evidence suggests that the e-cigarette cessation experience may share some similarities with quitting conventional cigarettes.…”