A study by Cochrane Library shows evidence that Electronic Cigarettes with nicotine increase quit rates compared to other replacement.
Cochrane’s researchers and the University of East Anglia recently published a review to evaluate the effects and safety of using electronic cigarettes (ECs) to support people in smoke cessation.
Cochrane Library is a collection of databases that contain different types of high-quality, independent evidence to inform healthcare decision-making. The Institute analyses, thanks to topic-experts, all evidence relating to a particular health and social care topic, carrying out systematic reviews.
This particular study was due because of the grey area around the effectiveness of e-cigarettes to help people stop or reduce smoking. Scientific research hasn’t been able yet to provide a comprehensive answer on how well they work, and whether they can deliver more safely nicotine compared to traditional cigarettes. Hence, some governments, organizations, and advocacy groups continuing to discouraged any further advance social campaign on this, citing the lack of evidence of safety and benefits of e-cigarettes.
Electronic Cigarettes are handheld devices that work by heating a liquid that usually contains nicotine and flavourings. E-cigarettes allow inhaling nicotine in a vapour rather than smoke, not exposing users to the same level of toxins as conventional cigarettes.
The review included 50 studies- representing over 12 thousand participants- who looked at the use of e-cigarettes to help people quit. The studies took place in the USA (21), the UK (9), Italy (7), Australia (2), New Zealand (2), Greece (2), and one study each in Belgium, Canada, Poland, South Korea, South Africa, Switzerland and Turkey. The survey included randomized controlled trials, particularly on how many people stopped smoking for at least six months, and how many had any unwanted effects.
According to the studies examined, there was evidence that quit rates were higher in people using nicotine Electronic Cigarettes than in those using nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). Also, quit rates were higher in people randomized to nicotine EC than to non-nicotine EC.
For what concern unwanted effects of smoking, the review identified the most common as headache, throat/mouth irritation, nausea, cough, which tended to disappear over time.
The result revealed as for every 100 people using nicotine e‐cigarettes to stop smoking, 10 might successfully stop. It reduced to six of 100 with people using nicotine‐replacement therapy or nicotine‐free e‐cigarettes. It goes under to four of 100 in people having no support or behavioural support only.
Previous studies have already displayed how e-cigarettes satisfy the needs of some smokers by replacing the psychological and social aspects of smoking. The ritual which many smokers are so passionate about could- in fact – be replicate by vaping.
Therefore, e-cigarettes could be a viable substitute for long-term substitution on smoke addiction and a good approach to Tobacco Harm Reduction.
