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Cheung YTD, Zhang MJ, Luk TT, Ho SY, Lam TH, Wang MP. Telephone Counseling and Messaging Guided by Mobile Profiling of Tobacco Users for Smoking Cessation: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 14 March 2025;8(3):e250764. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.0764

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2831508

Question? Is personalized smoking cessation intervention guided by mobile health profiling of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) effective for individuals who smoke with no intention to use smoking cessation aids?

“The study included 459 participants (304 males [66.2%]) with a mean (SD) age of 36.7 (10.7) years. Biochemically validated tobacco abstinence rates were 8.2% in the intervention group and 3.5% in the control group (odds ratio [OR], 2.46; 95% CI, 1.06 to 5.75; P = .04) at 3-month follow-up. The corresponding rates at the 6-month follow-up were 9.5% and 4.0% (OR, 2.56; 95% CI, 1.15-5.70; P = .02). The intervention group also showed a more significant increase in Incremental Behavior Change Toward Smoking Cessation (IBC-S) score at 3 months after EMA initiation. IBC-S scores from baseline to both 3-month (β = 1.03; 95% CI, 0.46-1.59; P < .001) and 6-month (β = 0.95; 95% CI, 0.37-1.53; P = .001) increased.

The findings of this randomized clinical trial suggest that telephone counseling and instant messaging support, guided by mHealth profiling, increased tobacco abstinence vs EMA alone. This intervention may be used to supplement conventional smoking cessation for individuals who use tobacco and are unwilling to use smoking cessation aids.”

TRC Research Commentary

Evidence from two recent studies shows e-cigarette use produces nicotine exposure (is addictive as) and similar respiratory symptoms as combustible cigarettes, countering the disinformation of the tobacco industry.

Brose, L.S., Reid, J.L., Robson, D. et al. Associations between vaping and self-reported respiratory symptoms in young people in Canada, England and the US. BMC Med 22, 213 (29 May 2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-024-03428-6

https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-024-03428-6

A study that compared self-reported respiratory symptoms among youth by vaping behaviors showed that among youth, vaping was associated with increased reporting of past-week respiratory symptoms. Among those who vaped, some flavor types and potentially nicotine salts were associated with respiratory symptoms.

Overall, 27.8% reported experiencing any of the five respiratory symptoms. Compared with youth who had only vaped, those who had only smoked had similar odds of symptoms [adjusted odds ratio, OR (95% confidence interval, CI): 0.97 (0.85–1.10)], those who both smoked and vaped had higher odds [1.26 (1.12–1.42)], and those who had done neither, lower odds [0.67 (0.61–0.72)].

Hammond D, Reid JL, Goniewicz ML, et al. Nicotine Exposure From Smoking Tobacco and Vaping Among Adolescents. JAMA Netw Open. 12 March 2025;8(3):e2462544. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.62544

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2831325

This population-based, observational cross-sectional study invited adolescents aged 16 to 19 years in Canada, England, and the US who had previously completed national surveys to participate in a biomarker study based on their vaping and smoking status.

Objective: To examine potential differences in biomarkers of exposure to nicotine (1) between adolescents who smoke tobacco, vape, both vape and smoke (dual use), or do not use; (2) between adolescents in 3 countries; and (3) by nicotine content and form in the vaping product last used among adolescents who exclusively vaped.

In this cross-sectional study of 364 adolescents from 3 countries, exclusively vaping in the past week was associated with similar nicotine metabolite levels compared with smoking tobacco (exclusively and both vaping and smoking). Among adolescents who exclusively vaped, those who reported using nicotine salts had higher levels of nicotine metabolites than those who reported using nonsalt products or who did not know.

Meaning: These findings suggest that nicotine intake is similar among adolescents who vape and adolescents who smoke, with potentially significant implications for understanding dependence and long-term patterns of vaping.

Comment: Evidence exposes the tobacco industry’s biased promotion of e-cigarettes as safe and not addictive. Stephen Hamann