El-Shahawy Omar, Fawole Adetayo, Kang Brian, Abbasi-Kangevari Mohsen, Braga Mariana, Hamade Nada, Doucoure Mohamed, Cantrell Jennifer, Sherman Scott, Shpiegel Svetlana, Schatz Daniel, Stevens Elizabeth R
Department of Population Health, Section for Tobacco, Alcohol and Drug Use (TADU), New York University Grossman School of Medicine, NY, USA.
New York University School of Global Public Health, NY, USA.
Subst Use. 2025 Aug 25;19:29768357251337050. doi: 10.1177/29768357251337050. eCollection 2025 Jan-Dec.
Electronic cigarettes (EC) may serve as a potential smoking harm reduction tool by addressing both nicotine and behavioral dependence. This qualitative study reports the feasibility and acceptability of using EC and telehealth counseling among individuals in treatment programs for opioid use disorders (OUD) who smoke combustible cigarette, and was conducted as part of a randomized controlled trial. We report findings among participants in the EC arm.
Qualitative interviews were conducted from March to May 2021. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and de-identified. An inductive approach guided by the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability was used. We developed and refined a codebook through a collaborative iterative process and team discussions. Five analysts coded the transcripts using Quirkos, with independent double coding for each transcript to achieve consensus and ensure inter-coder reliability. In-depth thematic analysis was conducted via synthesizing relevant codes that were described and exemplified using representative quotes. Saturation was achieved when no additional codes emerged.
Eleven participants randomized to EC were interviewed: average age = 55 years (range = 39-69), 88% were male, 41% non-Hispanic black, and 35% non-Hispanic white. Four main themes identified included inciting sense of accountability toward cigarette smoking reduction; acknowledging the value of telehealth counseling; noting positive attributes such as addressing craving, as well as challenges in utilizing EC such as the need to remember charging the EC; and finally, participants' expression of the satisfaction with their perceived improvements in their health and other behavioral aspects.
The intervention combining telehealth counseling with EC was perceived as acceptable and helpful for reducing cigarette smoking, as well as resulting in other positive health benefits. ECs were easy to use and seemed to address craving; albeit with some challenges that can be addressed in future trials. EC combined with telehealth counseling carries great promise in smoking reduction among individuals with OUD.
电子烟（EC）通过解决尼古丁和行为依赖问题，可能成为一种潜在的降低吸烟危害的工具。本定性研究报告了在使用可燃香烟的阿片类物质使用障碍（OUD）治疗项目中的个体中使用电子烟和远程医疗咨询的可行性和可接受性，该研究是一项随机对照试验的一部分。我们报告了电子烟组参与者的研究结果。
2021年3月至5月进行了定性访谈。访谈进行了录音、转录并去除了识别信息。采用了以可接受性理论框架为指导的归纳法。我们通过协作迭代过程和团队讨论制定并完善了一本编码手册。五名分析人员使用Quirkos对转录本进行编码，每个转录本进行独立的双重编码以达成共识并确保编码员间的可靠性。通过综合使用代表性引语进行描述和举例的相关编码，进行了深入的主题分析。当没有出现新的编码时，达到了饱和状态。
对随机分配到电子烟组的11名参与者进行了访谈：平均年龄 = 55岁（范围 = 39 - 69岁），88%为男性，41%为非西班牙裔黑人，35%为非西班牙裔白人。确定的四个主要主题包括：激发对减少吸烟的责任感；认可远程医疗咨询的价值；指出电子烟的积极属性，如解决渴望问题，以及使用电子烟的挑战，如需要记住给电子烟充电；最后，参与者对他们在健康和其他行为方面的感知改善表示满意。
将远程医疗咨询与电子烟相结合的干预措施被认为是可接受的，有助于减少吸烟，并带来其他积极的健康益处。电子烟易于使用，似乎能解决渴望问题；尽管存在一些挑战，可在未来试验中解决。电子烟与远程医疗咨询相结合在减少OUD个体吸烟方面具有很大潜力。
