[Use of E­cigarettes as an additional tool in a smoking cessation group intervention : Results after 12 months]. / Nutzung und Nutzen der E­Zigarette im Rahmen eines strukturierten verhaltenstherapeutischen Gruppenprogramms : Ergebnisse einer 12-Monats-Nachbefragung.

BACKGROUND: E-cigarettes are considerably safer regarding health issues than conventional cigarettes, but there is uncertainty concerning its use for smoking cessation. OBJECTIVES: How and to what extent are E­cigarettes used by smokers willing to quit? Are E­cigarettes a useful intervention for smokers attending a group intervention for smoking cessation? MATERIALS AND METHODS: One year after attending a group intervention for smoking cessation in Germany, 637 attendants were assessed by telephone. The interview topics were the use of E­cigarettes and tobacco abstinence. RESULTS: Of the attendants that could be interviewed, 12.6% had used E­cigarettes during or after the smoking cessation intervention. At the beginning of the intervention these smokers smoked significantly more cigarettes and were more addicted to cigarettes than the other attendants. After one year significantly less E­cigarette users were abstinent compared to participants that used nicotine replacement therapy or no additional smoking cessation aids. CONCLUSIONS: The application of E­cigarettes is counterproductive for smokers looking for help in an abstinence oriented smoking cessation group. The lack of distinct, easy to follow instructions on the use of E­cigarettes as a cessation tool may impair the process of cessation. Without good guidance smokers may get distracted in their motivation and willingness to stop smoking.

Smoking Cessation Program for Inpatients with Substance Use Disorder: A Quasi-Randomized Controlled Trial of Feasibility and Efficacy.

AIMS: The present study investigated the feasibility, acceptance and efficacy of a newly developed cognitive behavioral program for smoking cessation/reduction ('Rethink your Smoking' program, RSP) in inpatients with substance use disorder (SUD). METHOD: One hundred ninety-nine inpatients with SUD were randomly assigned to either the RSP (n = 101) or a minimal intervention (MI) program (n = 98). In addition, participants were offered optional nicotine replacement therapy. Data from a group of patients with SUD without any intervention (control group, n = 78) were included in the analyses for comparison. Assessments were performed at admission, discharge and follow-up after 3 and 6 months. RESULTS: RSP proved to be feasible and was well accepted by participants. Patients in both interventions showed lower scores for physical nicotine dependence and number of cigarettes smoked per day and higher scores for various motivational parameters at discharge and 3 months later. Both interventions were superior to no intervention, but no differences were found between the RSP and MI. CONCLUSION: A smoking cessation/reduction program is feasible for substance-dependent in-patients undergoing detoxification. Although the RSP appears to be effective in terms of harm reduction in in-patients with SUD, more cost- and time-efficient programs might also be suitable for this population.