Providing an e-cigarette starter kit for smoking cessation and reduction as adjunct to usual care to smokers with a mental health condition: findings from the ESCAPE feasibility study
2025

E-cigarette Starter Kit for Smokers with Mental Health Conditions

Sample size: 43 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Kale Dimitra, Beard Emma, Marshall Anna-Marie, Pervin Jodi, Wu Qi, Ratschen Elena, Shahab Lion

Primary Institution: University College London

Hypothesis

Can providing an e-cigarette starter kit as an adjunct to usual care help smokers with mental health conditions in their cessation efforts?

Conclusion

The study found that offering an e-cigarette starter kit to smokers with mental health conditions was acceptable and showed promising harm reduction outcomes.

Supporting Evidence

  • 93.3% of participants in the intervention group reported using e-cigarettes at follow-up.
  • 61.9% of the intervention group achieved at least a 50% reduction in cigarette consumption.
  • Qualitative interviews indicated the intervention was broadly acceptable.

Takeaway

This study tested if giving e-cigarettes to people with mental health issues could help them stop smoking, and it seemed to work pretty well.

Methodology

A randomized controlled feasibility trial comparing an e-cigarette starter kit with usual care over a 1-month follow-up.

Potential Biases

Participants in the control group expressed disappointment, which may have affected their engagement.

Limitations

The study did not meet its target recruitment rate and had a higher attrition rate than expected.

Participant Demographics

Mean age 45.2 years, 39.5% female, primarily white ethnicity (76.7%).

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/s12888-024-06387-7

Want to read the original?

Access the complete publication on the publisher's website

View Original Publication