Biochemically verified smoking cessation and vaping beliefs among vape store customers

AimsTo evaluate biochemically verified smoking status and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use behaviors and beliefs among a sample of customers from vapor stores (stores specializing in ENDS). Design, Setting and ParticipantsA cross-sectional survey of 215 adult vapor store customers at four retail locations in the Midwestern United States; a subset of participants (n=181) also completed exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) testing to verify smoking status. MeasurementsOutcomes evaluated included ENDS preferences, harm beliefs, use behaviors, smoking history and current biochemically verified smoking status. FindingsMost customers reported starting ENDS as a means of smoking cessation (86%), using newer-generation devices (89%), vaping non-tobacco/non-menthol flavors (72%) and using e-liquid with nicotine strengths of 20mg/ml (72%). There was a high rate of switching (91.4%) to newer-generation ENDS among those who started with a first-generation product. Exhaled CO readings confirmed that 66% of the tested sample had quit smoking. Among those who continued to smoke, mean cigarettes per day decreased from 22.1 to 7.5 (P <0.001). People who reported vaping longer [odds ratio (OR)=4.659, 95% confidence interval (CI)=2.001-10.846], using newer-generation devices (OR=2.950, 95% CI=1.037-8.395) and using non-tobacco and non-menthol flavors (OR=2.626, 95% CI=1.133-6.085) were more likely to have quit smoking. ConclusionsAmong vapor store customers in the United States who use electronic nicotine delivery devices to stop smoking, vaping longer, using newer-generation devices and using non-tobacco and non-menthol flavored e-liquid appear to be associated with higher rates of smoking cessation.