et al Communication Between US Physicians …
Delnevo CD, Jeong M, Teotia A, et al Communication Between US Physicians and Patients Regarding Electronic Cigarette Use. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(4):e226692. “Overall, 69.8% of physicians reported ever being asked about e-cigarettes by their patients (35.9% in the past 30 days), and 21.7% reported ever recommending e-cigarettes to a patient (9.8% in the past 30 days)… In clinical scenarios, physicians were overall more likely to recommend e-cigarettes for cessation to an older heavy smoker with multiple unsuccessful quit attempts (49.3%; 95% CI, 47.1%-51.4%) than a younger light smoker with no prior cessation treatments (15.2%; 95% CI, 13.6%-16.7%) (P < .001).”
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2791164
Comment: Authors believe that the “efficacy for the use of e-cigarettes will grow”. However, research does not provide evidence that e-cigarettes are a useful population-based cessation approach. Given that e-cigarettes are not recommended as standard treatment for smoking cessation by the US or Australian health agencies and that the majority of e-cigarette users could have adverse health consequences since most use cigarettes too (dual use), it is clear doctors do not consider established evidence of patient harm when recommending e-cigarettes. Yes, communication is necessary; communication to NOT use e-cigarettes when other proven methods to stop nicotine addiction are available.
Stephen Hamann
