Developing a Vape Shop-Based Smoking Cessation Intervention: A Delphi Study

Langley, Tessa; Young, Emily; Hunter, Abby; Bains, Manpreet

Abstract

Introduction
Providing access to a vape shop-based smoking cessation intervention may simultaneously increase e-cigarette use and increase the effectiveness of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation. The aim of this study was to identify the most important elements of vape shop-based smoking intervention to stakeholders who would be involved in delivering or accessing such an intervention.

Aims and Methods
We conducted a three-round Delphi study of vape shop staff (n=40), stop smoking professionals and tobacco control leads (n=30), and smokers, vapers and dual users (n=30) in the United Kingdom in May-August 2021. In each round participants were asked whether they agreed or disagreed statements related to vape shop-based interventions.

Results
Forty-six of 95 statements reached consensus in round one, 29 out of 49 in round two and eight out of 20 in round three. There was support for a vape shop-based intervention across stakeholder groups (96%). There was consensus that the service should comprise both product (98%) and behavioural support (97%), and that quitting vaping should not be a goal of the service (79%). Although there was consensus that there should be some free product provision, there was less consensus as to what this should involve. Views were mostly consistent across stakeholder groups.

Conclusions
There was broad consensus on how to deliver a vape shop-based smoking cessation intervention, providing a strong basis for future intervention development and implementation. Challenges around misuse of the service and misperceptions about vaping would need to be addressed for such an intervention to be feasible and effective.

Implications
Many smokers who make a quit attempt using e-cigarettes purchase their vaping products in vape shops. Delivering vape-shop based smoking cessation interventions could help to maximise the effectiveness of e-cigarettes for quitting smoking. This study used a Delphi approach to identify the most important elements of a vape shop-based intervention among stakeholders. The findings could be used to help develop future interventions.

Citation

Langley, T., Young, E., Hunter, A., & Bains, M. (2024). Developing a Vape Shop-Based Smoking Cessation Intervention: A Delphi Study. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 26(10), 1362-1369. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntae105

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 24, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Apr 30, 2024
• Publication Date: 2024-10
• Deposit Date: Apr 29, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: May 1, 2025
• Journal: Nicotine & Tobacco Research
• Print ISSN: 1462-2203
• Electronic ISSN: 1469-994X
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 26
• Issue: 10
• Pages: 1362-1369
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntae105
• Keywords: smoking, smoking cessation, electronic cigarettes, consensus, vaping, smokers
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/34322659
• Publisher URL: https://academic.oup.com/ntr/article-abstract/26/10/1362/7659912?redirectedFrom=fulltext
• Additional Information: This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in Nicotine and Tobacco Research following peer review. The version of record Tessa Langley, Emily Young, Abby Hunter, Manpreet Bains, Developing a Vape Shop-Based Smoking Cessation Intervention: A Delphi Study, Nicotine & Tobacco Research, Volume 26, Issue 10, October 2024, Pages 1362–1369, is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntae105