A longitudinal study of electronic cigarette users.
OBJECTIVE
To assess behavior change over 12 months in users of e-cigarettes ("vapers").


METHODS
Longitudinal Internet survey, 2011 to 2013. Participants were enrolled on websites dedicated to e-cigarettes and smoking cessation. We assessed use of e-cigarettes and tobacco among the same cohort at baseline, after one month (n=477) and one year (n=367).


RESULTS
Most participants (72%) were former smokers, and 76% were using e-cigarettes daily. At baseline, current users had been using e-cigarettes for 3 months, took 150 puffs/day on their e-cigarette and used refill liquids containing 16 mg/ml of nicotine, on average. Almost all the daily vapers at baseline were still vaping daily after one month (98%) and one year (89%). Of those who had been vaping daily for less than one month at baseline, 93% were still vaping daily after one month, and 81% after one year. In daily vapers, the number of puffs/day on e-cigarettes remained unchanged between baseline and one year. Among former smokers who were vaping daily at baseline, 6% had relapsed to smoking after one month and also 6% after one year. Among dual users (smokers who were vaping daily at baseline), 22% had stopped smoking after one month and 46% after one year. In dual users who were still smoking at follow-up, cigarette consumption decreased by 5.3 cig/day after one month (from 11.3 to 6.0 cig./day, p=0.006), but remained unchanged between baseline and 1-year follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
E-cigarettes may contribute to relapse prevention in former smokers and smoking cessation in current smokers.
Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland. Electronic address: Jean-Francois.Etter@unige.ch.
Jean-François
JF
Etter
Chris
C
Bullen
D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D061485:Tobacco Use Cessation Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control*
D009538:Nicotine
E-cigarette; Electronic cigarette; Nicotine; Smoking