title: Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation.
abstract: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are novel vaporising devices that, similar to nicotine replacement treatments, deliver nicotine but in lower amounts and less swiftly than tobacco smoking. However, they enjoy far greater popularity than these medications due in part to their behaviour replacement characteristics. Evidence for their efficacy as cessation aids, based on several randomised trials of now obsolete e-cigarettes, suggests a modest effect equivalent to nicotine patch. E-cigarettes are almost certainly far less harmful than tobacco smoking, but the health effects of long-term use are as yet unknown. Dual use is common and almost as harmful as usual smoking unless it leads to quitting. Population effects, such as re-normalising smoking behaviour, are a concern. Clinicians should be knowledgeable about these products. If patients who smoke are unwilling to quit or cannot succeed using evidence-based approaches, e-cigarettes may be an option to be considered after discussing the limitations of current knowledge.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Health Innovation, School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand, c.bullen@auckland.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bullen
mesh_terms: D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors; D061485:Tobacco Use Cessation Devices
chemical_list: D009538:Nicotine