UK poll shows “trust gap” in e-cigarette use

There is a large gap in trust in e-cigarettes among smokers, with more than half now believing they are as harmful as, or more harmful than, cigarettes.

The poll of 2,000 smokers shows a growing distrust of switching to e-cigarettes. Nearly 38 percent of those who lack trust say this may deter them from trying to quit smoking by smoking e-cigarettes in the future.

The Kahn Review says e-cigarettes play a central role in the nation’s smoke-free future, with more than 6.5 million people in the UK still smoking. Evidence from the Office of Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) last year reaffirmed that e-cigarettes are at least 95 percent less harmful than smoking.

But according to a study of adult smokers’ trust in e-cigarettes commissioned by inhalation technology pioneer SMOORE and conducted by One Poll, 29 percent only believe in e-cigarettes as a way to quit smoking, while 13 percent don’t believe in them at all.

Among those whose trust is declining, 35% said there is a lack of independent long-term clinical research showing that e-cigarettes are less harmful than smoking. While 31 percent are concerned about the lack of any available information on the harm profile of different vape products. Other factors contributing to the lack of trust include negative reports and studies encountered by smokers, inconsistent government attitudes toward e-cigarettes around the world, the growing black market for e-cigarettes, and the World Health Organization’s views on e-cigarettes.

“There are significant efforts to motivate smokers to switch to e-cigarette products, but as of now, there is not all the information needed to make a decision,” said Tensing Pei, senior aerosol engineer at Seymour. for analysis, testing and safety assessment.

“It is vital that smokers feel confident enough to switch to e-cigarettes, especially since Health Minister Neil O’Brien (Neil O’Brien) has said the government must ‘harness the huge potential of e-cigarettes to help adult smokers quit’. “

“But reducing or quitting is very difficult and they must be convinced that what they are trying is not a waste of time. If e-cigarettes are seen as a reliable way to quit, urgent efforts need to be made to ensure that smokers believe these products will have the desired effect.”

The study also reveals how to regain trust among these smokers, 30 percent of whom claim a public health campaign promoting evidence-based facts could turn the tide. Better education of physicians and more advice on how e-cigarettes can be an effective way to reduce the harms of smoking was cited as another key way to build trust.

Meanwhile, 21 percent welcomed the removal of advertising regulations on e-cigarette companies. However, 68% of smokers remain confused when it comes to understanding which products are appropriate to help quit smoking. When it comes to e-cigarette products, 70 percent now “don’t know who to trust.

Three-quarters of smokers want information about the harm profile of e-cigarette products at the time of purchase. Of those, 87 percent say it is important to know exactly what they are inhaling. Many are seeking clarification on the chemical composition (60%), carbon residue (46%) and heavy metal content (44%) of e-cigarettes.

However, 74% of people who smoke and inhale e-cigarettes initially begin to reduce their dependence on cigarettes, with 58% claiming they have had success.

The study coincided with Smoore’s creation of an independent think tank of scientific, cessation and compliance experts from the U.K. and U.S. to lay the foundation for an industry-wide harm reduction rating system that can be communicated to consumers on product packaging or accessed via QR codes.

“The concept of tobacco harm reduction is not widely understood by smokers, and there is a widespread misconception among the general public about the relative safety of e-cigarette products compared to smoking,” said Ian Fearon, one of the panel’s experts, who previously worked at Juul Labs and BAT in senior scientific and clinical positions at Juul Labs and BAT.

“The development of harm reduction labels can help smokers understand the potential risks of e-cigarette reduction and encourage switching, in addition to reassuring e-cigarette users about the quality of the products they use and allowing them to differentiate between products.

“Last year’s government statistics showed that the percentage of smokers in the UK was at its lowest level on record, and this decline was largely attributed to the major role played by e-cigarettes.

“However, the results of this study highlight the significant trust gap that exists between adult smokers, which is critical for the e-cigarette industry, government, regulators and healthcare professionals.

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