A Trial of E-cigarettes in Current Cigarette Smokers

Study initiation will commence after the first telephone contact (phone pre-screen), at the baseline visit. Additional lab visits will occur at days 8, 15, and 22 (visits 2-4). At the first study visit, 2/3rds of the participants will be randomly assigned to sample e-cigarettes and 1/3rd will not. Participants in the e-cigarette group will be provided with sufficient product to sample and use as they wish, but with minimal instruction on purpose and level of use (non-use is an outcome). Smokers in the control group will smoke their own brand of cigarettes, as they wish, for the duration of the sampling period. All participants will engage in ecological momentary assessments, which will be completed 3 times daily for 3 weeks. In-person follow-up assessments will be conducted at 1, 2, and 3 months after the final lab visit (Day 22).

Overall, each participant will be contacted 8 times: at the phone pre-screening, the 4 lab visits, and 3 follow-up visits.

Inclusion criteria

• age 18+
• current smoker of at least 5 cigarettes per day for at least 1 year
• at least some concern for health effects of smoking
• having an easily accessible email address

Exclusion criteria

• past six month use of any e-cigarette
• lifetime ever purchase of any e-cigarette
• recent history of cardiovascular distress (heart attack in past year; arrhythmia; uncontrolled hypertension)
• recent history (past 3 months) of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), cancer (any non-dermatologic), or uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
• pregnant or breastfeeding
• any major current psychiatric impairment, including current alcohol/drug abuse/dependence
• use of non-cigarette tobacco products (e.g., cigarillos) in the last 30 days
• current use of any smoking cessation medications
• current enrollment in a smoking cessation treatment study