Electronic cigarettes, quit attempts and smoking cessation: a 6‐month follow‐up

Background and aims There is conflicting evidence that use of e‐cigarettes promotes cessation in regular smokers, but contrasting findings may be due to differing definitions of vaping. The aim was to assess whether regular use of e‐cigarettes while smoking is associated with subsequent smoking cessation. Design Baseline internet survey with outcomes measured at 6‐month follow‐up. Setting All French metropolitan territory. Participants A total of 2057 smokers aged 15–85 years were recruited through an access panel and responded to a 6‐month follow‐up: 1805 exclusive tobacco smokers and 252 dual users (tobacco plus regular e‐cigarette users) at baseline. Measurements The three outcomes assessed at 6 months were: a minimum 50% reduction in the number of cigarettes smoked per day, quit attempts of at least 7 days and smoking cessation of at least 7 days at the time of follow‐up. Logistic regressions were performed to model the three outcomes according to regular e‐cigarette use at baseline, adjusted for socio‐economic variables and smoking behaviours. Findings Baseline dual users were more likely than baseline exclusive tobacco smokers to have halved cigarette consumption [25.9 versus 11.2%, P  < 0.001, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.6, confidence interval (CI) = 1.8–3.8]. Dual users at baseline were also more likely to have made a quit attempt of at least 7 days (22.8 versus 10.9%, P  < 0.001, aOR = 1.8, CI = 1.2–2.6). No significant difference was found for 7‐day cessation rates at 6 months (12.5 versus 9.5%, P  = 0.18, aOR = 1.2, CI = 0.8–1.9). Conclusions Among people who smoke, those also using an e‐cigarette regularly are more likely to try to quit smoking and reduce their cigarette consumption during the next 6 months. It remains unclear whether regular e‐cigarette users are also more likely to stop smoking.