title: Quit and smoking reduction rates in vape shop consumers: a prospective 12-month survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Here, we present results from a prospective pilot study that was aimed at surveying changes in daily cigarette consumption in smokers making their first purchase at vape shops. Modifications in products purchase were also noted.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were instructed how to charge, fill, activate and use their e-cigarettes (e-cigs). Participants were encouraged to use these products in the anticipation of reducing the number of cig/day smoked.
  
  
  METHODS
  Staff from LIAF contacted 10 vape shops in the province of the city of Catania (Italy) that acted as sponsors to the 2013 No Tobacco Day.
  
  
  METHODS
  71 adult smokers (≥18 years old) making their first purchase at local participating vape shops were asked by professional retail staff to complete a form.
  
  
  METHODS
  Their cigarette consumption was followed-up prospectively at 6 and 12 months. Details of products purchase (i.e., e-cigs hardware, e-liquid nicotine strengths and flavours) were also noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Retention rate was elevated, with 69% of participants attending their final follow-up visit. At 12 month, 40.8% subjects could be classified as quitters, 25.4% as reducers and 33.8% as failures. Switching from standard refillables (initial choice) to more advanced devices (MODs) was observed in this study (from 8.5% at baseline to 18.4% at 12 month) as well as a trend in decreasing thee-liquid nicotine strength, with more participants adopting low nicotine strength (from 49.3% at baseline to 57.1% at 12 month).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have found that smokers purchasing e-cigarettes from vape shops with professional advice and support can achieve high success rates.
authors: Centro per la Prevenzione e Cura del Tabagismo (CPCT), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria "Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele", Università di Catania, Catania 95100, Italy. polosa@unict.it.|Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università di Catania, Catania 95100, Italy. polosa@unict.it.
authors: Riccardo
authors: R
authors: Polosa
authors: Centro per la Prevenzione e Cura del Tabagismo (CPCT), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria "Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele", Università di Catania, Catania 95100, Italy. p.caponnetto@unict.it.|Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università di Catania, Catania 95100, Italy. p.caponnetto@unict.it.
authors: Pasquale
authors: P
authors: Caponnetto
authors: National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology, Palermo 90100, Italy. fabio.cibella@ibim.cnr.it.
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Cibella
authors: Addiction Research Unit at INSERM 1178 (Mental and Public Health), 75014 Paris, France. jacques.lehouezec@amzer-glas.com.|UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG51PB, UK. jacques.lehouezec@amzer-glas.com.
authors: Jacques
authors: J
authors: Le-Houezec
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D062789:Tobacco Products / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult