A longitudinal analysis of electronic cigarette use and smoking cessation.

A Longitudinal Analysis of Electronic Cigarette Use and Smoking Cessation Althoughelectronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or electronicnicotine delivery systems) are aggressively promoted as smoking cessationaids,1 studiesof their effectiveness for cessationhave been unconvincing.2,3 One randomized trial comparing e-cigarettes with and without nicotine with a nicotine patch foundnodifferences in6-monthquit rates.2 Populationbased, longitudinal studies have also not shown associations between e-cigarette use and quitting.4,5 A longitudinal, international study found that, although85%of smokerswhoused e-cigarettes reportedusing them to quit, e-cigarette users did not quit more frequently than nonusers (P = .52).4 Among US quitline callers, e-cigarette users were less likely to have quit at7months thannonusers.5Weconducteda longitudinalanalysis of a national sample of current US smokers to determine whether e-cigarette use predicted successful quitting or reduced cigarette consumption.