Quit and Smoking Reduction Rates in Vape Shop Consumers: A Prospective 12-Month Survey

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Riccardo Polosa³  Pasquale Caponnetto³  Fabio Cibella²  Jacques Le-Houezec¹ 

[1] Addiction Research Unit at INSERM 1178 (Mental and Public Health), 75014 Paris, France; E-Mail:;National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology, Palermo 90100, Italy; E-Mail:;Centro per la Prevenzione e Cura del Tabagismo (CPCT), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria “Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele”, Università di Catania, Catania 95100, Italy; E-Mail:

关键词: smoking cessation;    smoking reduction;    electronic cigarette;    vape shop;    tobacco harm reduction;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph120403428

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Aims: Here, we present results from a prospective pilot study that was aimed at surveying changes in daily cigarette consumption in smokers making their first purchase at vape shops. Modifications in products purchase were also noted. Design: Participants were instructed how to charge, fill, activate and use their e-cigarettes (e-cigs). Participants were encouraged to use these products in the anticipation of reducing the number of cig/day smoked. Settings: Staff from LIAF contacted 10 vape shops in the province of the city of Catania (Italy) that acted as sponsors to the 2013 No Tobacco Day. Participants: 71 adult smokers (≥18 years old) making their first purchase at local participating vape shops were asked by professional retail staff to complete a form. Measurements: Their cigarette consumption was followed-up prospectively at 6 and 12 months. Details of products purchase (i.e., e-cigs hardware, e-liquid nicotine strengths and flavours) were also noted. Findings: Retention rate was elevated, with 69% of participants attending their final follow-up visit. At 12 month, 40.8% subjects could be classified as quitters, 25.4% as reducers and 33.8% as failures. Switching from standard refillables (initial choice) to more advanced devices (MODs) was observed in this study (from 8.5% at baseline to 18.4% at 12 month) as well as a trend in decreasing the e-liquid nicotine strength, with more participants adopting low nicotine strength (from 49.3% at baseline to 57.1% at 12 month). Conclusions: We have found that smokers purchasing e-cigarettes from vape shops with professional advice and support can achieve high success rates.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.