Health & Studies

Research Roundup

The UKECRF has released its research roundup covering papers published during May and June

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The UK Electronic Cigarette Research Forum (UKECRF) has released its research roundup covering papers published during May and June. The briefings are produced for anyone with an interest in what vape studies are finding but who are non-specialists or short on the time to read through them in full.

The studies selected and further reading list do not cover every e-cigarette-related study published. Instead, they include high profile studies most relevant to key themes,” says the UKECRF, but gives a good indication of the sheer volume of work being carried out.

The effectiveness of using e-cigarettes for quitting smoking compared to other cessation methods among adults in the United Kingdom - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33751671/

The study looked at how well vaping works to help smokers quit. They looked at data provided by 1155 respondents, measuring if they were still smoke-free one month after follow-up. They found that when compared with using no support, pod systems or disposables worked over three times better and the use of refillable or modular systems worked over five times better.

They concluded: “When used daily, electronic cigarettes appear to facilitate abstinence from smoking when compared with using no help.”

While the news is positive, the UKECRF caution that memories may have been inaccurate, the sample sizes were “relatively small” and possibly “not representative of the UK population”, and “participants were not asked if they received behavioural support”.

Smokers' use of e-cigarettes in situations where smoking is not permitted in England: quarterly trends 2011-2020 and associations with sociodemographic and smoking characteristics - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34089607/

The team looked at whether smokers were using e-cigarettes in places where smoking was banned. They examined data obtained from 5,081 dual users and concluded: “In England, use of e-cigarettes in situations where smoking is not permitted is common among dual cigarette and e-cigarette users, has increased non-linearly since 2011, and is particularly prevalent among those who are younger, disadvantaged, more addicted, have recently failed to quit, and are not attempting to cut down.”

UKECRF stated that the team failed to identify precisely where smoking was not allowed and therefore the findings lacked context. It also pointed out that “a relatively small proportion of e-cigarette users also smoke cigarettes meaning the sample size was limited.”

E-cigarette advertising in the UK: a content analysis of traditional and social media advertising to observe compliance with current regulations - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33856487/

Researchers at Stirling’s Institute for Social Marketing and Health looked at 130 examples of vape adverts in traditional media and on Instagram.

In traditional channels, our sample of advertising had largely good compliance,” they found, but all 30 advertising on Instagram breached CAP Code rule 22.10 in their opinion.

Rule 22.10 states: “People shown using e-cigarettes or playing a significant role must neither be, nor seem to be, under 25. People under 25 may be shown in an incidental role but must be obviously not using e-cigarettes.”

UKECRF stated: “Compliance was assessed by researchers rather than the Advertising Standards Authority, who may have judged compliance differently. The sample of ads were from 2019. Since then, Instagram has introduced bans on influencers promoting vaping products which may have altered practice.”

Other studies from May/June:

Patterns of use

Perception

Cessation

Youth

Marketing

Harms and harm reduction

Misc

Dave Cross avatar

Dave Cross

Journalist at POTV
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Dave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous vape companies to develop content for their websites.

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