1. Aims
Introduction/Background
Methods
Anticipated Results
•Aim 1 – To assess the feasibility of recruiting and retaining
young adult smokers in an e-cig harm reduction study
•Aim 2 – To assess daily patterns of cigarette use, product
satisfaction and nicotine cravings with use of 4.5% vs 0 mg
(placebo) e-cigarettes
•Aim 3 – Compare the effect of nicotine cigarettes 4.5%
and place e-cigs (0 mg nicotine) on smoking reduction.
Assessing the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) as a harm reduction study
William KangHyun Keem, and Donna Shelley, MD
SARET Program, New York University SOM/COD/CON/SSW, NY
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) has the potential to be
one of the most cost-effective methods of quitting.
However more than 80% of people quitting with NRT do
not remain abstinent at 12 months (Ronckers 2005, Stead
2012). With the emergence of e-cigarettes, it has been
proposed that the behavioral habits and route of nicotine
deliverance of traditional cigarettes could be replaced
(Bullen 2010).
• 40 participants will be recruited to each arm through
craigslist
• Inclusion criteria – age 21-35, daily smoker, > 10 CPD,
provide consent, use of cell phone + receiving and
sending text
• Exclusion Criteria – pregnant/breastfeeding, on
smoking cessation program, medication or other
cessation trial, use of e-cig in past 2 weeks, AUDIT
score >7(men) or >5(women), DAST score >5, medical
history related to respiratory or cardiovascular
Figure 2 - Study Design
Figure 3 – Assessment and Intervention Period
Figure 1 – Interest over time on the term “vape” according to Google Trends
Figure 4 – Sample chart on the average
number of cigarettes used during each
interval of study0
5
10
15
20
Baseline
Week 1
Week 3
If eligible, subjects complete a baseline survey and then track
their smoking behavior for three days via a text messaging
program. After tracking smoking patterns they receive one
telephone counseling session and then start using e-cigarettes.
During the 3 weeks of e-cig use we send we text subject 3-8
questions four times a day to assess use of e-cigs and cigarettes
and to assess cravings and mood.
The study is currently in progress, as such, no data
has been collected as of yet. As the graph (figure 4)
shows, we hypothesize that as e-cig use increases
cigarette use will decline.
Data Analysis and Monitoring
• Data between e-cigarettes and cravings will be
correlated using simple Pearson correlation amongst
subjects.
• Multiple aspects of feasibility will measured
including retention rates in the two arms of the
study at each visit, tracking use of e-cigarettes and
cigarettes and satisfaction of e-cigarettes
• Frequencies and percentages of categorical
outcomes, means, standard deviations, medians and
interquartile range for continuous outcomes will be
calculated
• Qualitative interviews will be conducted with 10
subjects in each arm at weeks 1 and 3.
Acknowledgements
This project was funded by a grant from NIDA SARET Summer Research Program. The authors
would also like to thank Dr, Donna Shelley and her team for allowing me to participate in her
study and gain valuable experiences that could not be repeated.

2. References
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Ronckers ET, Groot W, Ament AJ: Systematic review of economic evaluation
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85.
Assessing the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) as a harm reduction study
William KangHyun Keem, and Donna Shelley, MD
SARET Program, New York University SOM/COD/CON/SSW, NY