New Research Comparing E-Cigarettes to NRTs

In January the New England Journal of Medicine published and announced a new randomized clinical trial comparing the use of e-cigarettes as a cessation device to nicotine replacement therapy. This is the third such clinical trial exploring this issue. Results were in the direction that many people expected—e-cigarettes were effective in helping patients quit cigarettes. But the magnitude was much higher than in previous studies—about twice as effective as NRT. This story made headlines in all the major newspapers (Washington Post, New York Times, etc.) and has added significant fuel to the already fiery conversation about how public health will understand and use e-cigarettes in the future. Aside from the standard criticism that the study was performed in the United Kingdom therefore in a different tobacco control landscape, we should be careful not to over-interpret these findings, nor should we downplay their importance. For more commentary on this topic, please read the expanded note from BHWP, STEPP’s statewide technical assistance provider in the domain of tobacco cessation. Citation: Hajek, P, Phillips-Waller, A….McRobbie, HJ. (2019). A randomized trial of e-cigarettes versus nicotine-replacement therapy. NEJM. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1808779

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