Study suggests hospitals providing free e-cigarettes to smokers could help thousands quit smoking

Free e-cigarettes in emergency departments could help thousands of people quit smoking, a study suggests.

Research from the University of East Anglia (UEA) shows that providing A&E patients with e-cigarettes and referrals to a smoking cessation counselor helps them quit smoking more than those who only receive advice.

Dr Ian Pope, from the University of East Anglia’s Norwich Medical School, added that the scientists behind the study now believe that “if this intervention was implemented widely it could lead to more than 22,000 additional people quitting smoking” smokes Per year”.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that around 6.4 million adults smoked in the UK in 2022, while the NHS says around 76,000 people die from smoking in the UK every year.

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Their study was carried out at six UK emergency departments between January and August two years ago, with the team providing around 484 daily smokers with brief advice from specialist advisers, as well as e-cigarette starter kits and referrals while they were in hospital. Information Stop Smoking Service.

A second group of 488 patients received only written information on how to access smoking cessation services.

After six months, the researchers gave study members a carbon monoxide test to confirm if they had quit smoking. Those who received e-cigarettes and were referred were 76% more likely to quit e-cigarettes.

Comparing the groups, 7.2% of those who received e-cigarettes had quit smoking after six months, compared with 4.1% of those who received advice only.

The first group was also more likely to try to quit smoking and self-reported a seven-day abstinence rate of just over 23% six months later, compared with 13% for the group receiving services.

Hazel Cheeseman, deputy chief executive of public health charity Action on Smoking and Health, said the findings were “compelling” and should be “carefully reviewed by those planning services for smokers in the NHS and local government.” consider”.

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one NHS Responding to the report, a spokesman said: “Smoking costs the NHS and taxpayers billions of dollars in avoidable health and social care costs every year.

“Encouraging more people to quit smoking will support them to live healthier lives.”

This is not the first time e-cigarettes have been recommended for use in UK hospitals. 2018, Public Health England It is recommended that hospitals sell e-cigarettes and provide a vaping lounge for patients.

However, another recent study found E-cigarettes damage users’ DNA just like smokers Who gets cancer.

Following Rishi Sunak’s announcement Plan to ban disposable e-cigarettes to combat their use by children.

The University of East Anglia study, published in the Journal of Emergency Medicine, said: “While evidence is growing for the use of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation intervention, not enough research has been conducted to understand how best to prevent adolescents from using e-cigarettes , while enabling smoking cessation in a targeted manner.”