E-cigarettes are much more effective at aiding smokers trying to quit than traditional methods

Many smokers are trying to quit using various aids, such as nicotine patches and gum. However, the battle is still not an easy one with many people coming back to smoking rather quickly. One of the reasons why quitting smoking is so difficult is because people get used to hand-to-mouth motion and the social function of tobacco. That could be why e-cigarettes are almost twice as effective as nicotine replacement treatments.

Scientists from the University of York, Queen Mary University of London, London South Bank University, and Kings College London conducted a study, which involved almost 900 smokers who also received additional behavioural support. Some of them started using nicotine replacement treatments, while others picked up e-cigarettes. While only 10 % of people who used patches and gum were tobacco-free after a year, e-cigarettes helped as much as 18 % of the people. In other words, e-cigarettes are almost twice as effective as traditional nicotine replacement treatments, but behavioural support was also provided.

Every week for four weeks participants had individual sessions with expired air carbon monoxide monitoring. In these conversations people were given advise how to stay smoke-free and how to deal with potential problems, arising during the course of first weeks without tobacco. These consultations also revealed that e-cigarettes are highly effective in smoking cessation – this study showed that their effectiveness is even higher than previously believed. Scientists say that this could be because e-cigarettes allow for a more tailored nicotine dose to individual needs, while also being similar to conventional cigarettes from the behavioural point of view.

Tobacco smoking is one of the leading causes of avoidable early death. However, people often experience difficulties quitting cigarettes due to their addictive nature and behavioural/social peculiarities of smoking. Professor Peter Hajek, lead researcher of the study, said: “Although a large number of smokers report that they have quit smoking successfully with the help of e-cigarettes, health professionals have been reluctant to recommend their use because of the lack of clear evidence from randomised controlled trials. This is now likely to change”.

Vaping is a growing trend and a multi-billion dollar industry. But it is still addictive and doctors have trouble suggesting such option to people trying to quit smoking. Researches like this put these worries to rest – e-cigarettes are a viable option for people who want to put out that last cigarette once and for all.

Source: University of York