Summary report on use of e-cigarettes and relation to tobacco smoking uptake and cessation, relevant to the Australian context

Abstract

This document provides a summary of work conducted to date on a review of the health impacts of e-cigarettes, commissioned by the Australian Government Department of Health. This summary review includes content from the following reports: 1. Review of smoking prevalence and trends in Australia 2. Review of smoking prevalence and trends in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population 3. Review of evidence regarding changes in smoking behaviour with decreasing smoking prevalence, including that relating to the “hardening hypothesis” 4. Review of the patterns of e-cigarettes use 5. Systematic review of evidence regarding combustible smoking uptake in relation to e-cigarette use; and 6. Systematic review of evidence regarding the efficacy of e-cigarettes for combustible tobacco or nicotine cessation. The findings presented here should be regarded as preliminary; many are in the process of undergoing peer-review or will undergo peer-review in the future. The next stage of the program of work is to review health outcomes in relation to e-cigarette use and to conduct a public health assessment of e-cigarettes for Australia; these will be completed by end June 2021.