title: Electronic cigarettes in North America: history, use, and implications for smoking cessation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Designed to mimic the look and feel of tobacco cigarettes, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) may facilitate smoking cessation. However, the efficacy and safety of e-cigarette use for this purpose remain poorly understood. Our objectives were to review the available data on the efficacy and safety of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation and to consider issues relevant to the context in which they are used, including product awareness and regulatory and ethical concerns.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We systematically searched PubMed for randomized controlled trials and uncontrolled, experimental studies involving e-cigarettes. Included studies were limited to English or French language reports. Quality assessment was performed according to the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. We identified 169 publications, of which 7 studies were included. Studies have concluded that e-cigarettes can help reduce the number of cigarettes smoked and may be as effective for smoking cessation as the nicotine patch. Although there is a lack of data concerning the safety and efficacy of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation therapy, available evidence showed no significant difference in adverse event rates between e-cigarettes and the nicotine patch. E-cigarettes are widely used among smokers attempting to quit. However, significant international variation remains in the regulatory mechanisms governing the sale and distribution of e-cigarettes. Ethical concerns surround the use of e-cigarettes among minors and their potential to undermine efforts to reduce cigarette smoking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the limited available evidence on the risks and benefits of e-cigarette use, large, randomized, controlled trials are urgently needed to definitively establish their potential for smoking cessation.
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical Epidemiology, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada (C.F., T.B., S.B.W., K.B.F., M.J.E.); Division of Clinical Epidemiology (K.B.F.), Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada (K.B.F., M.J.E.); and Division of Cardiology, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada (M.J.E.).
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Franck
authors.forename: Talia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Budlovsky
authors.forename: Sarah B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Windle
authors.forename: Kristian B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Filion
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Eisenberg
mesh_terms: D004581:Electronics; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D009656:North America; D012307:Risk Factors; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D062789:Tobacco Products / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000266:history* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D061485:Tobacco Use Cessation Devices / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000266:history*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: review; smoking cessation; tobacco use cessation products