Development of a Self-Help Smoking Cessation Intervention for Dual Users of Tobacco Cigarettes and E-Cigarettes

Lauren R. Meltzer, Vani N. Simmons, Bárbara Piñeiro, David J. Drobes, Gwendolyn P. Quinn, Cathy D. Meade, Karen O. Brandon, Amanda Palmer, Marina Unrod, Paul T. Harrell, Christopher R. Bullen, Thomas Eissenberg and Thomas H. Brandon
Additional contact information
Lauren R. Meltzer: Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
Vani N. Simmons: Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
Bárbara Piñeiro: Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
David J. Drobes: Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
Gwendolyn P. Quinn: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Population Health, School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY 10016, USA
Cathy D. Meade: Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
Karen O. Brandon: Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
Amanda Palmer: Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
Marina Unrod: Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
Paul T. Harrell: Department of Pediatrics, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA 23501, USA
Christopher R. Bullen: Department of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
Thomas Eissenberg: Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23220, USA
Thomas H. Brandon: Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 5, 1-12

Abstract: Most users of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) report initiating use to quit combustible cigarettes. Nevertheless, high levels of dual use (i.e., using both combustible cigarettes and e-cigarettes) occur among adults. Using formative data from in-depth interviews and employing learner verification, we adapted an existing, validated self-help smoking-cessation intervention (Stop Smoking for Good; SSFG) to create a targeted intervention for dual users, If You Vape: A Guide to Quitting Smoking (IYV). In Phase I, in-depth interviews ( n = 28) were conducted to assess relevance of the existing SSFG materials (10 booklets, nine pamphlets) and identify new content for the booklets. Next, for Phase II, learner verification interviews ( n = 20 dual users) were conducted to assess their appeal and acceptability. Several key themes emerged from the Phase I in-depth interviews. Findings led to the inclusion of e-cigarette-specific strategies used by successful quitters such as gradually reducing nicotine levels, switching from tobacco flavor to alternative flavors, and limiting e-cigarette use to places one would normally smoke (i.e., not expanding use). Suggestions from Phase II learner verification included broadening the visual appeal for a younger, more diverse demographic, expanding tips for quitting smoking via e-cigarettes, and expanding terminology for e-cigarette devices. Beginning with an efficacious self-help intervention, we used a systematic process to develop a version specifically for dual users.

Keywords: dual use; e-cigarette; self-help; smoking cessation; qualitative; focus groups; in-depth interviews (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/5/2328/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/5/2328/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:5:p:2328-:d:506967

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().