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| Title |
Electronic Cigarettes May Have a Lower Potential to Cause Harm in Comparison to Traditional Tobacco Cigarettes |
| Clinical Question |
Do electronic cigarettes have a lower potential to cause harm when compared to traditional tobacco cigarettes? |
| Clinical Bottom Line |
Electronic cigarettes are aimed to deliver inhaled doses of nicotine. Although nicotine is addictive in nature, it poses very low capability to produce harm (aside from during pregnancy). It is because of the absence of dried tobacco leaves, which have been proven to contain harmful additives, which could potentially make electronic cigarettes a safer alternative in comparison to tobacco cigarette smoking. Due to the wide variety of liquid nicotine available on the market, regulation of the liquid nicotine products and their contents is needed in order for research to obtain definitive conclusions on long term safety to ensure that the quality of nicotine and the content of nitrosamines contained in aerosols; remains at low risk levels for users and those exposed to aerosols produced.
|
| Best Evidence |
(you may view more info by clicking on the PubMed ID link) |
| PubMed ID |
Author / Year |
Patient Group |
Study type
(level of evidence) |
| #1) 25078252 | Hajek/2014 | | Systematic review of non-randomized trials | | Key results | Electronic cigarettes have the potential to reduce smoking related morbidity. Switching to electronic cigarettes from traditional tobacco could be an effective step to smoking cessation. Based on surveys from regular electronic cigarette users, according to the review, 42%-99% reported electronic cigarettes aided in smoking cessation according to a lessened perception of addiction potential. Interpreting results from studies performed on the chemical composition of the contents in electronic cigarettes is complicated due to the wide variety of electronic liquids available for purchase. | |
| Evidence Search |
("electronics"[MeSH Terms] OR "electronics"[All Fields] OR "electronic"[All Fields]) AND ("tobacco products"[MeSH Terms] OR ("tobacco"[All Fields] AND "products"[All Fields]) OR "tobacco products"[All Fields] OR "cigarette"[All Fields])
|
Comments on
The Evidence |
The systematic review did not identify a standard of quality in the papers which were reviewed. Various case studies which were included addressed a need for additional research, specifically on the long term safety of electronic cigarette use. |
| Applicability |
Due to the lack of research on long term affects of electronic cigarette usage, their use should not be recommended for health benefit. However, some studies show their potential to cause less harm than traditional tobacco cigarettes. Their use may be recommended for patients who have had long term unsuccess with traditional smoking cessation programs or nicotine aids. |
| Specialty/Discipline |
(Public Health) (General Dentistry) (Dental Hygiene) (Behavioral Science) |
| Keywords |
Electronic cigarette safety
|
| ID# |
2764 |
| Date of submission: |
09/08/2014 |
| E-mail |
WHITEHEADSM@livemail.uthscsa.edu |
| Author |
Sarah Maye Whitehead |
| Co-author(s) |
Sahar Entezari, Jacqueline Valent |
| Co-author(s) e-mail |
ENTEZARI@livemail.uthscsa.edu, VALENTJ@livemail.uthscsa.edu |
| Faculty mentor/Co-author |
Carol A. Nguyen, MPH, MS |
| Faculty mentor/Co-author e-mail |
NGUYENC@uthscsa.edu |
Basic Science Rationale
(Mechanisms that may account for and/or explain the clinical question, i.e. is the answer to the clinical question consistent with basic biological, physical and/or behavioral science principles, laws and research?) |
post a rationale |
| None available | |
|
Comments and Evidence-Based Updates on the CAT
(FOR PRACTICING DENTISTS', FACULTY, RESIDENTS and/or STUDENTS COMMENTS ON PUBLISHED CATs) |
post a comment |
| None available | |
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