Differences in Tobacco Quit Rates between E-Cigarette Users and Non-Users during Community Based Cessation Classes in Southeastern Pennsylvania

E-Cigarette companies advertise their product as a safe alternative to cigarettes and other tobacco products and as a cessation tool for quitting altogether.  These claims are made despite little existing information on the health and safety of e-cigarettes and even less evidence supporting their effectiveness as a tobacco cessation product.  Countering these manufacturer’s claims is research showing that among tobacco quitline callers, e-cigarette usage is actually a detriment to quitting tobacco. (Vickerman, 2013)  

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Tobacco Control Project had 3,930 clients enroll in group or individual cessation classes between January, 2012 and July, 2013, 13.6% of whom reported on an intake survey having used the e-cigarette in the last 30 days.  Clients that reported e-cigarette use at intake were less likely to report having not smoked in the last 30 days on six-month follow-up surveys compared to clients that did not use the e-cigarette (36.8% to 41.5% respectively).  An even wider gap existed in the quit rates at six months between the 10.1% of clients that reported having used the e-cigarette in the last 30 days on the post-treatment survey, meaning that they used it during treatment, and those that did not (28.9% of e-cig users quit compared to 43.8% of non e-cig users). 

This presentation will further examine the lower quit rates of e-cigarette users compared to non e-cigarette users, exploring similarities and differences in socio-economic status, demographics, and tobacco use characteristics.  The results of which will allow us to advocate for stronger policy and treatment guidelines.