Comparison of Leading E-cigarette Product Types on Relative Reinforcement Value and Tobacco Use Patterns Among Current Smokers

Detailed Summary

Some smokers who try e-cigarettes transition completely from cigarettes to e-cigarettes, but others continue to use both products, or abandon e-cigarettes and return completely to cigarettes. One factor that likely impacts these tobacco use patterns is the e-cigarette device used. The majority of e-cigarettes purchased today are one of two "types:" customizable tanks or pods. These e-cigarette types differ from each other in critical ways, like nicotine delivery and sensory characteristics, that are likely to impact use by influencing the relative reinforcement value of the product. The present study will be a randomized trial investigating the impact of e-cigarette device type on reinforcement value and use among current smokers. Current smokers (n=100) will be randomly assigned to either a control group that does not receive an e-cigarette or one of two e-cigarette types: a customizable tank, or a pod. The impact of device type on relative reinforcement value will be assessed using a choice task. Participants will also take home their assigned e-cigarette for a three-week sampling period. Primary outcomes include relative reinforcement value (choices to smoke in the lab-based choice task), cigarette smoking behavior (cigarettes smoked per day during sampling), and uptake (e-cigarette puffing episodes per day during sampling).

Study Details

Timeline

Interventions