User pathways of e-cigarette use to support long term tobacco smoking relapse prevention: a qualitative analysis

Background and aims E-cigarettes are the most popular consumer choice for support with smoking cessation in the United Kingdom. However, there are concerns that long-term e-cigarette use may sustain concurrent tobacco smoking or lead to relapse to smoking in ex-smokers. We aimed to explore vaping trajectories, establishing e-cigarette users' perspectives on continued e-cigarette use in relation to smoking relapse or abstinence. Design Qualitative longitudinal study collecting detailed subjective data at baseline and similar to 12 months later. Setting United Kingdom. Participants E-cigarette users (n = 37) who self-reported that they had used e-cigarettes to stop smoking at baseline. Measurements Semi-structured qualitative interviews (face-to-face or telephone) collected self-reported patterns of e-cigarette use. Thematic analysis of transcripts and a mapping approach of individual pathways enabled exploration of self-reported experiences, motives, resources, and environmental and social influences on vaping and any concurrent tobacco smoking. Findings Three broad participant pathways were identified: 'maintainer' (e-cigarette use and not smoking), 'abstainer' (neither smoking nor using e-cigarettes), and 'relapser' (dual-using, or relapsed back to tobacco smoking only). In each pathway, individual experiences with vaping nicotine appeared to play an important role and appeared to be related to psychological and social factors. A social context supportive of vaping was important for the maintainers, as was a belief in the need to overcome nicotine addiction for the abstainers, and dislike of the 'vaping culture' expressed by some in the relapser group. Dual-users held beliefs such as a need for cigarettes at time of acute stress that affirmed dependence on tobacco. Conclusions In a sample of UK e-cigarette users who report having used e-cigarettes to quit smoking, a social context that supports continued vaping was perceived to be helpful in preventing relapse to smoking.

Automated summary

A qualitative longitudinal study explored vaping trajectories among e-cigarette users in the UK, identifying three main pathways: 'maintainer', 'abstainer', and 'relapser'. Individual experiences with vaping nicotine appeared to be related to psychological and social factors. A social context supportive of continued vaping was perceived to be helpful in preventing relapse to smoking in this sample.