Does the Regulatory Environment for E-Cigarettes Influence the Effectiveness of E-Cigarettes for Smoking Cessation?: Longitudinal Findings From the ITC Four Country Survey.
BACKGROUND
To date, no studies have explored how different regulatory environments may influence the effectiveness of electronic cigarettes (ECs) as a smoking cessation aid.


OBJECTIVE
This study compares the real-world effectiveness of adult smokers using ECs for quitting compared with quitting unassisted or quitting with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and/or prescription medications in two countries with restrictive policies towards ECs (ie, Canada and Australia) versus two countries with less restrictive policies (ie, United States and United Kingdom).


METHODS
Data were drawn from the International Tobacco Control Four Country surveys, from the United States and Canada (2 waves, n = 318 and 380, respectively), the United Kingdom (3 waves, n = 439) and Australia (4 waves, n = 662), collected 2010-2014. Smokers at baseline wave who reported making a quit attempt at follow-up were included. The primary outcome was self-reported abstinence for at least 30 days regardless of smoking status at follow-up assessment. Data across waves were combined and analyzed using generalized estimating equations.


RESULTS
Compared to unassisted quitting (ie, no medications or ECs), smokers who used ECs for quitting from countries with less restrictive EC policy environments were more likely (OR = 1.95, 95%CI = 1.19-3.20, p < .01), whereas smokers who used ECs for quitting from countries with more restrictive EC policies were less likely (OR = 0.36, 95%CI = 0.18-0.72, p < .01), to report sustained abstinence for at least 30 days.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of ECs in the real world during a quit attempt appears only effective for sustaining smoking abstinence in a less restrictive EC environment suggesting that the benefits of ECs for smoking cessation are likely highly dependent on the regulatory environment.


CONCLUSIONS
What this study adds: This is the first study to examine the impact of regulatory environment for ECs on their real-world effectiveness for smoking cessation. This study shows that in a less restrictive EC regulatory environment, use of ECs during a quit attempt facilitates, but in a more restrictive environment, it inhibits, short-term sustained abstinence. The findings underscore the need for careful consideration on how best to regulate this emerging product so that EC benefits for smoking cessation are maximized and its risks to public health are minimized.
Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Australia.
Hua-Hie
HH
Yong
Department of Addictions, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.|UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies (UKCTAS), Nottingham, UK.
Sara C
SC
Hitchman
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.
K Michael
KM
Cummings
Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Australia.
Ron
R
Borland
Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada.
Shannon M L
SML
Gravely
Department of Addictions, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.|UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies (UKCTAS), Nottingham, UK.
Ann
A
McNeill
Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada.|School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada.|Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Canada.
Geoffrey T
GT
Fong
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D002170:Canada; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D033161:Government Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult