ArticleTobacco control2021
Factors that influence smokers' and ex-smokers' use of IQOS: a qualitative study of IQOS users and ex-users in the UK.
Article in Tobacco control, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 48 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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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.
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.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
48 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Impact of heated tobacco products on biomarkers of potential harm and adverse events: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Tobacco control · 2026Pooled it
- Critical appraisal of interventional clinical trials assessing heated tobacco products: a systematic review.Tobacco control · 2024Pooled it
- Heated tobacco products for smoking cessation and reducing smoking prevalence.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2022Pooled it
- Comparing the Effectiveness, Tolerability, and Acceptability of Heated Tobacco Products and Refillable Electronic Cigarettes for Cigarette Substitution (CEASEFIRE): Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR public health and surveillance · 2023Trial
- Respiratory function, functional capacity, dyspnea, and sleep quality in young adults using the IQOS heated tobacco product: a matched cross-sectional study.Internal and emergency medicine · 2026Article
- Review
- Odor Reduction Drives Transition to Heat-Not-Burn Tobacco Products in Poland.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2025Article
- Trends in Single and Multiple Noncombustible Nicotine Product Use: A Population Study in England.Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco · 2025Article
- The Health Effects of Heated Tobacco Product Use-A Narrative Review.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Article
- Socioeconomic status and its limited influence on perceptions of heated tobacco products and cigarettes: no relation with physical health, but association with mental health benefits and lower sensitivity to peer pressure.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
- Article
- Nicotine Delivery of a Menthol-Flavored Heat-not-Burn Tobacco Product During Directed Use.Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco · 2024Article
- What Can Current Biomarker Data Tell Us About the Risks of Lung Cancer Posed by Heated Tobacco Products?Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco · 2024Article
- The role of IQOS risk perceptions on cigarette smoking behaviours: results from a prospective pilot study.Tobacco control · 2024Article
- Heated tobacco product (IQOS) induced pulmonary infiltrates.Respiratory medicine case reports · 2024Article
- Examining Factors Associated with E-Cigarette Use among Current Smokers.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Brief report on IQOS point-of-sale marketing, promotion and pricing in IQOS retail partner stores in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.Tobacco control · 2023Article
- Corporate communication of the relative health risks of IQOS through a webchat service.Tobacco control · 2023Article
- Potentially Identifying Variables Reported in 100 Qualitative Health Research Articles: Implications for Data Sharing and Secondary Analysis.Forum, qualitative social research · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundOne of the most widely available heated tobacco products is IQOS by Philip Morris International. However, there is a lack of independent research exploring IQOS initiation and subsequent use among smokers and ex-smokers.
aimsTo (1) explore the reasons why smokers and ex-smokers use and continue/discontinue IQOS and (2) consider implications for future research and policy.
participantsAdult (18+) current (n=22) and ex-users (n=8) of IQOS who either currently smoked or quit smoking in the last 2 years.
methodsQualitative interview study in London, UK.
resultsSix main factors influenced initiation and use of IQOS: (1) Health-wanting to reduce/quit smoking and perceptions of reduced harm (while understanding IQOS was not risk-free). Branded packaging, absence of pictorial warnings and physical health improvements conveyed reduced harm. (2) Financial-including high start-up costs, but cheaper ongoing costs than smoking. (3) Physical-mixed views on enjoyment and satisfaction. Sensory experiences influenced use including discreetness, cleanliness, reduced smell and tactile similarities relative to combustible cigarettes. (4) Practical-issues of accessibility, shortcomings with maintenance/operation limited ongoing use, whereas use in smoke-free places increased use. (5) Psychological-similarities in rituals and routines, although new practices developed to charge and clean; some liked trailblazing new technology. (6) Social-improved social interactions from using IQOS instead of smoking, but with more limited shared social experiences for some.
conclusionFor some, IQOS facilitated smoking substitution. Factors such as packaging, labelling, risk communication, price and smoke-free policies appear to influence initiation and use.
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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.