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. 2018 May:80:65-70.
doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.01.012. Epub 2018 Jan 11.

Effects of six weeks of electronic cigarette use on smoking rate, CO, cigarette dependence, and motivation to quit smoking: A pilot study

Damaris J Rohsenow  1 , Jennifer W Tidey  2 , Rosemarie A Martin  2 , Suzanne M Colby  2 , Thomas Eissenberg  3
Affiliations

Effects of six weeks of electronic cigarette use on smoking rate, CO, cigarette dependence, and motivation to quit smoking: A pilot study

Damaris J Rohsenow et al. Addict Behav. 2018 May.

Abstract

Objectives: Switching from combustible tobacco cigarettes to electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) may or may not help smokers to reduce cigarette consumption and toxicant exposure. This pilot study investigated the effects of asking smokers to switch to e-cigs for 6weeks on smoking, exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) concentration, dependence, and motivation to quit smoking.

Methods: Non-treatment seeking daily smokers (n=18) were given free e-cigs and instructed to use them instead of smoking cigarettes for 6weeks. Smokers were assessed at baseline, weekly for 6weeks, and at 8 and 10weeks for cigarettes/day, e-cig use, CO, cigarette dependence, and Contemplation Ladder.

Results: All participants completed 6weeks; 17 completed 10weeks. At Week 6, cigarettes/day were reduced by two-thirds and CO by 45% from baseline (p's<.001), with reductions maintained at Week 10 (p's<.005). Cigarette dependence scores were a third lower at Weeks 6 (p<.002) and 10 (p<.001) than at baseline. Contemplation Ladder scores were higher at Weeks 6 and 10 (p's<.001) than at baseline. All these statistical effect sizes were large. At Week 6, number of reasons not to use e-cigs increased (p<.011).

Conclusions: Results show preliminary evidence for beneficial effects of short-term switching to e-cigs by non-treatment seeking smokers in terms of reduced smoke toxicant exposure and cigarette dependence, and increased motivation to quit, all maintained at least 4weeks after free e-cigs were no longer provided.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest

Dr. Eissenberg is a paid consultant in litigation against the tobacco industry and is named on a patent application for a device that measures the puffing behavior of electronic cigarette users. There are no other interests to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Upper: Cigarettes per day across time. Standard error bars are shown. Change from baseline was analyzed at 6 and 10 weeks, *p < .005; ** p < .001. Lower: Expired carbon monoxide (CO) across time. Standard error bars are shown. PPM means parts per million. Change from baseline was analyzed at 6 and 10 weeks, * p < .005, ** p < .001.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Upper: Fagerström Test for Cigarette Dependence (FTCD) score across time. Standard error bars are shown. For change from baseline, *p < .002; ** p < .001. Lower: Contemplation Ladder score across time. Standard error bars are shown. For change from baseline, *p < .001.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Reasons to Use or Not to Use E-cigs: For change from baseline, *p < .011
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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