Electronic Cigarette and Smoking Cessation – A cross Sectional Study among ARU Students

Introduction: Since electronic cigarettes have been introduced as a safe alternative for traditional cigarettes in the UK, the number of users has significantly increased raising concerns regarding their role as a cessation method and reasons behind using them. This research aimed to provide better understanding the effectiveness of electronic cigarette when it is used for smoking cessation.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of Anglia Ruskin University students was conducted between October 2019 and January 2020. The study included 67 E-cigarette users who completed an online questionnaire, and the primary outcome was self-reported smoking cessation for ≥ six months at the time of the survey.

Result: Among smokers, 66% of them reported smoking cessation for ≥ 6 months. Moreover, the odds of smoking cessation were 5.9 (95% CI 1.22 to 28.95) times higher among smokers who used an electronic cigarette for more than 12-month. Smokers who vaped in a daily pattern were more likely to quit smoking than non-daily users (Unadjusted OR = 6.7, 95% CI 1.6 to 28.38).

Conclusion: Among students’ smokers at ARU, smoking cessation was associated with long-term and daily use of electronic cigarette. Nevertheless, further studies, such as RCT, should be conducted to determine the efficacy of EC as a cessation tool