Vaporized Nicotine Products for Smoking Cessation Among People Experiencing Social Disadvantage
Ryan J. Courtney, Bridget C. Howard, Daniel Barker, Dennis Petrie, Ron Borland, Anthony Shakeshaft, Coral Gartner, Colin Mendelsohn, Veronica Boland, Alexandra Henderson, Robyn Richmond, Piotr Tutka, Felix Naughton, Wayne Hall, Nicholas Zwar, Michael Farrell, Richard P. Mattick, Hayden McRobbie
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Vaporized nicotine products (VNPs) are more effective than nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for smoking cessation in general populations, but their effectiveness among low socioeconomic groups is largely unknown. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether VNPs are more effective than NRT for smoking cessation among people experiencing social disadvantage. DESIGN: Two-group, open-label, randomized trial with blinded outcome ascertainment. (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12621000076875). SETTING: Australia, between March 2021 and December 2022. PARTICIPANTS: 1045 adults who smoked daily, were willing to quit smoking, and were receiving a government pension/allowance (proxy for social disadvantage). INTERVENTION: Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to either a free 8-week supply of NRT or VNPs, and all participants received text-message support. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was 6-month continuous smoking abstinence verified using a carbon monoxide breath test at 7-month follow-up. Analysis included randomly assigned participants in accordance with Russell Standard criteria and the intention-to-treat principle. RESULTS: < 0.001). LIMITATIONS: Biochemical verification method tested short-term exposure to cigarette smoke. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate that VNPs were more effective than NRT for smoking cessation in this population. Given the challenges for cessation among these socially disadvantaged populations, VNPs present a promising treatment option for this priority group. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: Australian National Health and Medical Research Council.