A scoping review on the effectiveness of e-cigarettes compared to nicotine replacement therapy in smoking cessation among young adults.

Abstract

Background: Electronic cigarettes and Nicotine Replacement Therapy are well recognised methods of quitting smoking in adults, and both have been shown to be effective in reducing tobacco use. However, their effectiveness and efficacy as a form of smoking cessation in young people is still uncertain. The aim of this scoping review was to map out available evidence on the effectiveness and role of e-cigarette and nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation among young adults.

Methods: To identify appropriate studies for this review, systematic search of PUBMED, MEDLINE, and grey literature search databases for publications that provided evidence smoking cessation for e-cigarette users and NRT users was conducted. Data synthesis was carried out initially using title and abstract, then full text screening. Then, the data extracted was characterized with results and findings made in the publications.

Results: Twenty studies were selected for review. There were ten randomised controlled trials (RCTs), two quantitative analyses, one case series, three systematic reviews and meta-analyses, one systematic review, one cohort study, two non-randomised uncontrolled before and after studies, among the twenty studies included in this scoping review. From the 20 studies, eleven studies focused on e-cigarettes aid, seven studies focused on nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), while the remaining two studies focused on both e-cigarette and NRT for smoking cessation. The result of the review suggested that both e-cigarettes, which is popularly used among young adults, and nicotine replacement therapy are very good smoking cessation aids with both methods working effectively. The work also revealed that both e-cigarettes and NRT had some adverse effects.

Conclusion: E-cigarette and NRT have been shown as very good methods to quit smoking, from the research. There have only been a few studies on the effective role and safety of e-cigarette and NRT among young adults. There is a need for further study on the efficacy of NRT since it is not commonly used, and also the safety of long-term e-cigarette usage among young adults.