E-cigarette and combusted tobacco abstinence among young adults: Secondary analyses from a U.S.-based randomized controlled trial of vaping cessation

• Published in: Preventive medicine Vol. 165; no. Pt B; p. 107119
• Main Authors: Graham, Amanda L., Cha, Sarah, Papandonatos, George D., Amato, Michael S., Jacobs, Megan A., Abroms, Lorien C., Berg, Carla J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-12-2022
• Subjects: Combusted tobacco; Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; Humans; Nicotiana; Randomized trial; Smoking; Smoking Cessation; Text message; Tobacco Products; Vaping; Vaping - prevention & control; Vaping cessation; Young Adult; Text message; Vaping; Vaping cessation; Young adult; Combusted tobacco; Randomized trial; Smoking
• ISSN: 0091-7435; 1096-0260
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.107119

To examine patterns of abstinence from e-cigarettes, combusted tobacco products (CTPs), both, or neither among young adults enrolled in a U.S.-based randomized trial of a text message vaping cessation intervention.
At baseline, 1829 young adult e-cigarette users were categorized as Exclusive E-cigarette Users (no past 30-day CTP use; n = 1036, 56.6%) or Dual Users (past 30-day CTP use; n = 793, 43.4%). Four groups were defined at 7-months: 1) Dual Abstinent, 2) Exclusive Vaping, 3) Exclusive CTP Use, and 4) Dual Users. The proportion of participants who were Dual Abstinent was the outcome of interest.
At follow-up, 22.1% (95% CI: 20.3, 24.1) of participants were Dual Abstinent, 44.8% (95% CI: 42.5, 47.1) reported Exclusive Vaping, 6.3% (95% CI: 5.2, 7.5) reported Exclusive CTP Use, and 26.8% (95% CI: 24.8, 28.9) were Dual Users. A higher proportion of participants randomized to Intervention were Dual Abstinent (25.9%, 95% CI 23.1, 28.9) compared to Control (18.5%, 95% CI 16.0, 21.1; p = .0002). Analyses of treatment effects on dual abstinence by baseline tobacco product use favored Intervention over Control among both Exclusive E-cigarette Users (p = .019) and Dual Users (p = .0014).
A text message vaping cessation intervention was effective in promoting dual abstinence from e-cigarettes and CTPs among young adults. The advantage of treatment over control was equivalent for Exclusive E-cigarette Users and Dual Users. Rates of dual abstinence were higher among exclusive vapers than dual users, signaling the need for more research to optimize cessation programs for poly-tobacco users.
•A quit vaping program promoted dual abstinence among young adults.•Program effectiveness for dual abstinence was equivalent for vapers and dual users.•Rates of dual abstinence were higher among exclusive vapers than dual users.