New study finds vaping products are more effective than nicotine patches and gum for quitters

Vaping products have been found to be more effective at helping smokers to quit than other nicotine replacement treatments, such as patches and gum. This is according to the results of a recent clinical trial led by Queen Mary University of London.

The study involved almost 900 smokers who also received additional behavioural support, found that 18% of vapers were smoke-free after a year, compared to 9.9% of participants who were using other nicotine replacement therapies.

The study, published in January 2019, is available here.

Key findings include:

• Vaping products are almost twice as effective as nicotine replacement treatments, such as patches and gum, at helping smokers to quit
• Abstinence rates were higher in the vaping group at all time points
• Among participants who did not achieve full abstinence, more vapers achieved a carbon monoxide-validated reduction of smoking by at least 50 per cent
• Vaping participants reported greater decline in incidence of cough and phlegm production after 52 weeks
• Vaping products were rated as more helpful than nicotine replacement treatment
• The vaping group abstainers experienced less severe urges to smoke at 1 and 4 weeks post-quit date