E-Cigarettes with and without Behavioral Support for Smoking Cessation.
Katie Myers Smith, Dunja Przulj, Francesca Pesola et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial compared an e-cigarette starter pack alone, the starter pack plus multisession telephone-based behavioral support, and automated supportive messages among people who smoked and were motivated to quit. The primary outcome was biochemically validated sustained smoking abstinence at 6 months. Abstinence was 6.4% with supportive messages, 11.3% with e-cigarettes alone, and 21.1% with e-cigarettes plus telephone support. E-cigarettes alone outperformed supportive messages, while adding telephone support improved abstinence further compared with e-cigarettes alone.
Key findings
- Six-month abstinence was 11.3% with e-cigarettes alone versus 6.4% with supportive messages (relative risk 1.76; 97.5% CI, 1.03 to 3.01; P=0.018).
- Abstinence was 21.1% with e-cigarettes plus telephone support versus 11.3% with e-cigarettes alone (relative risk 1.87; 97.5% CI, 1.27 to 2.75; P<0.001).
- Serious adverse events were reported by 8.1%, 10.8%, and 10.7% in the supportive messages, e-cigarette-only, and combined-support groups, respectively.
Why it matters
The findings distinguish the contribution of e-cigarettes from that of added behavioral support in a cessation trial. E-cigarettes alone were more effective than automated supportive messages, and telephone-based support was associated with a further increase in validated abstinence. This provides comparative evidence for cessation approaches when behavioral support is available or not used.
What to keep in mind
Participants were motivated to quit, and the primary outcome was assessed at 6 months; the abstract does not establish longer-term abstinence.