Interest in Quitting and Utilizing Quitline Services Among Long-Term E-Cigarette Users

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) contain fewer hazardous ingredients than traditional cigarettes, yet they still pose health hazards. This study evaluates experienced e-cig users' quitting interest and Quitline utilization.

In a 2012 (Wave 1) baseline survey, 1875 (28.9%) provided consent consented to future study contact. This study focused on a follow-up survey sent in 2022 (4). The main indicators assessed were participants' were participants awareness, willingness, and motivations to utilize Quitlines to quit e-cigs. The Penn State Electronic Cigarette Nicotine Dependence Index (PSECDI) was used to assess the level of dependence on e-cigs. Descriptive statistics were used to examine the outcomes of interest. Additionally, a thematic analysis was performed to evaluate qualitative data.

Participants (n = 195) had a mean age of 52.4 (SD = 12.1) years, 64.6% (n = 126) were male, and the majority were Caucasian/White (88.2%, n = 172). About 42% (n = 82/195) of respondents had previously tried to quit e-cig use. Of these, more than half (63.4%, n = 52/82); had heard of Quitline; however, very few (9.8%, n = 8/82) were interested in utilizing Quitline services for assistance with quitting e-cigs. The themes that emerged included the impersonal nature of telephone counseling, lack of trust in external assistance, belief in participants' ability to quit without help, and skepticism about the effectiveness of Quitline interventions.

There was widespread reluctance to utilize Quitline cessation services among experienced e-cig users. To enhance engagement in cessation programs, such as Quitline, it may be helpful to consider specialized counseling and support tailored to the unique challenges among e-cig users.