title: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs): views of aficionados and clinical/public health perspectives.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) have experienced a rapid growth in popularity but little is known about how they are used.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to identify the e-cig products used by experienced e-cig users, their pattern of e-cig use and the impact on tobacco use.
  
  
  METHODS
  Face-to-face survey of 104 experienced e-cig users.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of all the e-cig users, 78% had not used any tobacco in the prior 30 days. They had previously smoked an average of 25 cigarettes per day, and had tried to quit smoking an average of nine times before they started using e-cigs. Two-thirds had previously tried to quit smoking using an FDA-approved smoking cessation medication. The majority of the sample had used e-cigs daily for at least a year. Three quarters started using e-cigs with the intention of quitting smoking and almost all felt that the e-cig had helped them to succeed in quitting smoking. Two-thirds used e-cig liquid with a medium to high concentration of nicotine (13 mg +). Only 8% were using the most widely sold types of cigarette-sized e-cigs that are typically powered by a single 3.7 volt battery. Instead most used e-cigs designed to enable the atomizer to more consistently achieve a hotter more intense vapour.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Until we have more evidence on the safety and efficacy of e-cigs for smoking cessation, smokers should be advised to use proven treatments (e.g. counselling and FDA-approved medicines). However, for those who have successfully switched to e-cigs, the priority should be staying off cigarettes, rather than quitting e-cigs.
authors.affiliation: Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033-0850, USA. jfoulds@psu.edu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Foulds
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Veldheer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005731:Ganglionic Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019946:Propylene Glycol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*; D061485:Tobacco Use Cessation Devices; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless
chemical_list: D005731:Ganglionic Stimulants; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; D019946:Propylene Glycol; D009538:Nicotine