Quit Methods Used by American Smokers, 2013-2014.

Area of Science:

• Tobacco control research
• Public health interventions
• Smoking cessation strategies

Background:

• Understanding smoking cessation methods is crucial for public health.
• Previous research has explored various strategies smokers use to quit.
• The Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study provides valuable data on tobacco use and cessation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the methods used for smoking cessation by current and former smokers in the past 12 months.
• To analyze the association between using single quit methods and being a former smoker.
• To compare the use of e-cigarettes with other cessation methods.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data from the 2013-2014 PATH Study.
• Survey weights were applied to compute population estimates for quit method usage.
• Logistic regression analysis examined the association between individual characteristics and single quit method use.

Main Results:

• Unaided quit attempts were the most common cessation method.
• Help from friends and family, and e-cigarettes were the most frequent single quit methods.
• E-cigarette use was associated with higher odds of being a former smoker compared to unaided attempts (OR = 1.42).
• E-cigarette use was more prevalent among current (34%) and former (54%) smokers than nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).

Conclusions:

• In 2013-2014, American adult smokers utilized e-cigarettes as smoking cessation aids more often than NRT or prescription drugs.
• E-cigarettes emerged as a significant method for smoking cessation among adult smokers.
• Findings highlight the evolving landscape of smoking cessation tools.