Tobacco Quitlines May Help Exclusive Vapers Quit

An Analysis of Data From an Employer-Sponsored Quitline

Etta Short, MS; Kelly M. Carpenter, PhD; Kristina Mullis, PhD; Chelsea Nash, BA; Katrina A. Vickerman, PhD

Prev Chronic Dis. 2023;20(6):e46

Abstract and Introduction

Abstract

Numerous studies have supported the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of quitlines for cigarette smoking cessation, but how effective they are for vaping cessation has not been established. Our secondary analysis examined quitline data on participants in employer-sponsored quitlines in the US run by Optum, Inc to compare quit rates among callers who were exclusive vapers (n = 1,194) with those who were exclusive smokers (n = 22,845). We examined data from the time of quitline enrollment, January 2017, through October 2020. Before adjusting for differences in demographics, quitline treatment engagement, and unadjusted quit rates, the quit rates for vapers were significantly higher. However, after adjusting for demographic and treatment engagement variables, 6-month quit rates among vapers did not differ significantly from rates among smokers.

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Abstract and Introduction
Objective
Methods
Results
Discussion
References
Sidebar

Table. Characteristics of Callers to Employer-Sponsored Quitlines, by Tobacco Type at Time of Registration, January 2017–October 2020
Characteristic	Total	Exclusive smokers	Exclusive vapers
Total, n (%)	24,039	22,845 (95.0)	1,194 (5.0)
Age group, no. (%), y
18–24	5,834 (24.3)	111 (0.5)	43 (3.6)
25–40	12,475 (51.9)	5,304 (23.2)	466 (39.0)
41–59	758 (3.2)	11,884 (52.0)	501 (42.0)
≥60	4,197 (17.5)	4,844 (21.2)	111 (9.3)
Missing data	775 (3.2)	702 (3.1)	73 (6.1)
Mean (SD)	49.2 (11.3)	49.5 (11.2)	43.0 (11.7)^a
No. (%) Male	10,587 (44.0)	9,867 (43.2)	720 (60.3)^a
Cigarettes per day, mean (SD)	—^b	13.8 (9.2)	—^b
Time to first use,^c no. (%) min
≤5	5,763 (24.0)	5,519 (24.2)	244 (20.4)
6–30	8,182 (34.0)	7,918 (34.7)	264 (22.1)
31–60	3,745 (15.6)	3,587 (15.7)	158 (13.2)
>60	4,599 (19.1)	4,358 (19.1)	241 (20.2)
Does not know/refused	608 (2.5)	495 (2.2)	113 (9.5)
Missing data	1,142 (4.8)	968 (4.2)	174 (14.6)
Received NRT sent from quitline, no. (%)	16,460 (68.5)	15,937 (69.8)	523 (43.8)^a
Calls completed, mean (SD)	3.3 (1.8)	3.2 (1.8)	3.8 (1.7)^a
1–4	14,747 (61.3)	14,192 (62.1)	555 (46.5)
≥5	9,292 (38.7)	8,653 (37.9)	639 (53.5)

Abbreviations: NRT, nicotine replacement therapy.
^a P <.001.
^bNot relevant for exclusive e-cigarette users.
^cTime to first use is the time between awaking and the first cigarette or vape used that day.