TY - JOUR T1 - Electronic cigarettes are at least as effective as nicotine patches for smoking cessation JF - Evidence Based Medicine JO - Evid Based Med SP - 133 LP - 133 DO - 10.1136/eb-2013-101690 VL - 19 IS - 4 AU - Lion Shahab AU - Maciej Goniewicz Y1 - 2014/08/01 UR - http://ebm.bmj.com/content/19/4/133.abstract N2 - Commentary on: Bullen C, Howe C, Laugesen M, et al. Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2013;382:1629–37.OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) contain refined nicotine dissolved in propylene glycol, glycerine or other humectants, which is vaporised with a battery-powered heating element, activated by suction or manually, and delivered into the airways.1 E-cigarettes have been shown to reduce craving and withdrawal symptoms in abstinent smokers and, as nicotine is delivered without tobacco combustion, are thought to be substantially safer than cigarettes.2 While e-cigarette use is rapidly increasing, relatively little is known about their efficacy for smoking cessation, particularly compared with established nicotine-containing pharmacological aids.3 A randomised controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of e-cigarettes was carried out in New Zealand. Adult participants were block-randomised (stratified by ethnicity, dependence and sex) to one of three … ER -