Evidence map›Paper›PMID 21989407›Full record

Trial reportBMC public health2011

Effect of an electronic nicotine delivery device (e-Cigarette) on smoking reduction and cessation: a prospective 6-month pilot study.

Riccardo Polosa, Pasquale Caponnetto, Jaymin B Morjaria, Gabriella Papale, Davide Campagna, Cristina Russo

2 registry-linked trialsOpen access · goldAbstract readClinical Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC public health, 2011. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 202 papers, 19 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
202citing papers in PubMed, 19 pooled it
25.8field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT01195597 nacompletednot on this map

Effect of an Electronic Nicotine Delivery Device (ENDD) on Smoking Cessation and Reduction: a Pilot Study

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of CataniaRan2010 to 2010Enrolled40ConditionsNicotine Dependence, Smoking CessationArmsE-Cigarette 7.2 mg nicotine
NCT02422914 naunknown statusnot on this mapstarted 2014, after this paper: background citation

Benefits of Tobacco Free Cigarette Among Heavy Smokers Undergoing a Lung Cancer Screening Program: a Randomized Controlled Study

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of MilanRan2014 to 2015Enrolled210ConditionsCigarette Smoking, Smoking CessationArmsSmoking cessation program TFC and activity tracker, Smoking cessation program TFC-free and activity tracker, Smoking cessation program and activity tracker
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

202 citing papers in PubMed, 19 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 437 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2025
    Pooled it
  2. Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2025
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  4. Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2024
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  5. Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2022
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  7. Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2021
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  8. Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2021
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  9. Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2020
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  14. Overview of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems: A Systematic Review.American journal of preventive medicine · 2017
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  20. Trial

142 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Riccardo PolosaCentro per la Prevenzione e Cura del Tabagismo (CPCT), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele, Università di Catania, Catania, Italy. polosa@unict.it
Pasquale Caponnetto
Jaymin B Morjaria
Gabriella Papale
Davide Campagna
Cristina Russo
Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Policlinico - Vittorio Emanuele · ITSouthampton General Hospital · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCigarette smoking is a tough addiction to break. Therefore, improved approaches to smoking cessation are necessary. The electronic-cigarette (e-Cigarette), a battery-powered electronic nicotine delivery device (ENDD) resembling a cigarette, may help smokers to remain abstinent during their quit attempt or to reduce cigarette consumption. Efficacy and safety of these devices in long-term smoking cessation and/or smoking reduction studies have never been investigated.

methodsIn this prospective proof-of-concept study we monitored possible modifications in smoking habits of 40 regular smokers (unwilling to quit) experimenting the 'Categoria' e-Cigarette with a focus on smoking reduction and smoking abstinence. Study participants were invited to attend a total of five study visits: at baseline, week-4, week-8, week-12 and week-24. Product use, number of cigarettes smoked, and exhaled carbon monoxide (eCO) levels were measured at each visit. Smoking reduction and abstinence rates were calculated. Adverse events and product preferences were also reviewed.

resultsSustained 50% reduction in the number of cig/day at week-24 was shown in 13/40(32.5%) participants; their median of 25 cigs/day decreasing to 6 cigs/day (p < 0.001). Sustained 80% reduction was shown in 5/40(12.5%) participants; their median of 30 cigs/day decreasing to 3 cigs/day (p = 0.043). Sustained smoking abstinence at week-24 was observed in 9/40(22.5%) participants, with 6/9 still using the e-Cigarette by the end of the study. Combined sustained 50% reduction and smoking abstinence was shown in 22/40 (55%) participants, with an overall 88% fall in cigs/day. Mouth (20.6%) and throat (32.4%) irritation, and dry cough (32.4%) were common, but diminished substantially by week-24. Overall, 2 to 3 cartridges/day were used throughout the study. Participants' perception and acceptance of the product was good.

conclusionThe use of e-Cigarette substantially decreased cigarette consumption without causing significant side effects in smokers not intending to quit (http://ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT01195597).

Indexed as

Smoking PreventionTobacco Use Cessation DevicesAdultCohort StudiesElectrical Equipment and SuppliesFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansItalyMaleMiddle AgedNicotinePilot ProjectsProspective StudiesSmoking CessationSurveys and QuestionnairesNicotine

Identifiers

PMID21989407
PMCPMC3203079
OpenAlexW2167769921

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.