The effects of offering a disposable EC versus NRT on smoking cessation outcomes: a retrospective community pharmacy study

_Background:  _E-cigarettes (EC) are now a viable alternative to traditional pharmacotherapies for supporting a quit attempt, with increasing evidence demonstrating their efficacy for smoking cessation and are the most popular quitting aid within the UK.  However, their effectiveness within a community pharmacy stop smoking service (SSS) has received limited attention.  _Objectives: _To measure the effectiveness of offering a disposable EC with and/or without nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) compared to NRT alone, on both 4-6 week and 12-week quit rates in adult smokers attending a community pharmacy.  _Methods: _ A non-randomised between subjects design was employed involving 1488 smokers willing to quit (835 = female; age = 41.98, SD= 11.31).  Smokers choose either an EC, EC + NRT (EC condition) or NRT alone (NRT condition), alongside standard behavioural support.  _Results: _Overall quit rates at 4- weeks were 57%; 56% for those in the EC condition and 61% for those in the NRT condition.  At 12 -weeks overall quit rates 30%; 30% in the EC condition and 32% in the NRT.  There were no significant differences between conditions at either follow up period._ _ _Conclusions: _Four-week quit rates were in line with the national average.  Offering a disposable EC showed to have comparable quit rates with those who received only NRT both at 4-6 and 12 weeks and that given the choice a significantly large number of smokers choose to use an EC within their cessation attempt within a community pharmacy setting