Therapeutics Randomised controlled trial
Electronic cigarettes are at least as effective as nicotine patches for smoking cessation 10.1136/eb-2013-101690 Lion Shahab,1 Maciej Goniewicz2 1
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK 2Department of Health Behavior, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York, USA Correspondence to: Dr Lion Shahab, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 6BT, UK; [email protected]
Commentary on: Bullen C, Howe C, Laugesen M, et al. Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2013;382:1629–37.
Context Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) contain refined nicotine dissolved in propylene glycol, glycerine or other humectants, which is vaporised with a battery-powered heating element, activated by suction or manually, and delivered into the airways.1 E-cigarettes have been shown to reduce craving and withdrawal symptoms in abstinent smokers and, as nicotine is delivered without tobacco combustion, are thought to be substantially safer than cigarettes.2 While e-cigarette use is rapidly increasing, relatively little is known about their efficacy for smoking cessation, particularly compared with established nicotine-containing pharmacological aids.3
Methods A randomised controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of e-cigarettes was carried out in New Zealand. Adult participants were blockrandomised (stratified by ethnicity, dependence and sex) to one of three conditions in a 4:4:1 ratio: elusion nicotine e-cigarettes (N=289), nicotine patch (N=295) or nicotine-free e-cigarettes (N=73). E-cigarettes or vouchers to obtain patches from pharmacies were sent to participants. All groups were instructed to use products from 1 week before until 12 weeks following their quit date and were referred to telephone-based behavioural support. The primary outcome measure was 6 months continuous abstinence, verified by exhaled carbon monoxide measurement (
Electronic cigarettes are at least as effective as nicotine patches for smoking cessation 10.1136/eb-2013-101690 Lion Shahab,1 Maciej Goniewicz2 1
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK 2Department of Health Behavior, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York, USA Correspondence to: Dr Lion Shahab, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 6BT, UK; [email protected]
Commentary on: Bullen C, Howe C, Laugesen M, et al. Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2013;382:1629–37.
Context Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) contain refined nicotine dissolved in propylene glycol, glycerine or other humectants, which is vaporised with a battery-powered heating element, activated by suction or manually, and delivered into the airways.1 E-cigarettes have been shown to reduce craving and withdrawal symptoms in abstinent smokers and, as nicotine is delivered without tobacco combustion, are thought to be substantially safer than cigarettes.2 While e-cigarette use is rapidly increasing, relatively little is known about their efficacy for smoking cessation, particularly compared with established nicotine-containing pharmacological aids.3
Methods A randomised controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of e-cigarettes was carried out in New Zealand. Adult participants were blockrandomised (stratified by ethnicity, dependence and sex) to one of three conditions in a 4:4:1 ratio: elusion nicotine e-cigarettes (N=289), nicotine patch (N=295) or nicotine-free e-cigarettes (N=73). E-cigarettes or vouchers to obtain patches from pharmacies were sent to participants. All groups were instructed to use products from 1 week before until 12 weeks following their quit date and were referred to telephone-based behavioural support. The primary outcome measure was 6 months continuous abstinence, verified by exhaled carbon monoxide measurement (
