• Jean-François Etter and Chris Bullen.
• Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. jean-francois.etter@unige.ch
• Addiction. 2011 Nov 1;106(11):2017-28.

AimsTo assess the profile, utilization patterns, satisfaction and perceived effects among users of electronic cigarettes ('e-cigarettes').Design And SettingInternet survey in English and French in 2010.MeasurementsOnline questionnaire.ParticipantsVisitors of websites and online discussion forums dedicated to e-cigarettes and to smoking cessation.FindingsThere were 3587 participants (70% former tobacco smokers, 61% men, mean age 41 years). The median duration of electronic cigarette use was 3 months, users drew 120 puffs/day and used five refills/day. Almost all (97%) used e-cigarettes containing nicotine. Daily users spent $33 per month on these products. Most (96%) said the e-cigarette helped them to quit smoking or reduce their smoking (92%). Reasons for using the e-cigarette included the perception that it was less toxic than tobacco (84%), to deal with craving for tobacco (79%) and withdrawal symptoms (67%), to quit smoking or avoid relapsing (77%), because it was cheaper than smoking (57%) and to deal with situations where smoking was prohibited (39%). Most ex-smokers (79%) feared they might relapse to smoking if they stopped using the e-cigarette. Users of nicotine-containing e-cigarettes reported better relief of withdrawal and a greater effect on smoking cessation than those using non-nicotine e-cigarettes.ConclusionsE-cigarettes were used much as people would use nicotine replacement medications: by former smokers to avoid relapse or as an aid to cut down or quit smoking. Further research should evaluate the safety and efficacy of e-cigarettes for administration of nicotine and other substances, and for quitting and relapse prevention.© 2011 The Authors, Addiction © 2011 Society for the Study of Addiction.

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