Results
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Table Cigarette-related withdrawal reliefProduct use reduced withdrawal symptoms related to cigarettes, with no difference in the reduction between products (i.e., mean scores of cigarettes craving strength: before NVP use M = 43.1%, SD = 18.1, after NVP use M = 25.5%, SD = 27.4, before HTP use M = 44.4%, SD = 17.0, after HTP use M = 22.7%, SD = 25.4; all results are displayed in Fig. Cigarette smoking related withdrawal relief after NVP and HTP use. NVP = nicotine vaping product, HTP = heated tobacco product, SD = standard deviation, MD* = mean within-person difference in the outcome variable after NVP use minus HTP use with adjustment for both period and the mean difference in variable before product use, CI = Confidence Interval. Cigarette cravings were measured on a 6-point Likert scale from 1 = ‘no urges’ to 6 = ‘extremely strong’. All the others were measured on a 5-point Likert scale, 1 = ‘not at all’ to 5 = ‘extremely’. All scales were normalised on 0% to 100%.Product satisfactionThe overall acute positive effects score was close to the middle value of the scale for both products, and slightly more favourable after HTPs than after NVPs use, though differences were non-significant (Fig. Acute positive effects after NVP and HTP use. NVP = nicotine vaping product, HTP = heated tobacco product, SD = standard deviation, MD* = mean within-person difference in outcome after NVP use minus HTP use with adjustment for period, CI = Confidence Intervals. Answer option a 10-point Likert scale, 1 = ‘not at all’ to 10 = ‘extremely’, normalised on 0% to 100% scale.Adverse side-effects after NVP and HTP use. NVP = nicotine vaping product, HTP = heated tobacco product, SD = standard deviation, MD* = mean within-person difference in outcome after NVP use minus HTP use with adjustment for period, CI = Confidence Intervals. Answer option a 10-point Likert scale, 1 = ‘not at all’ to 10 = ‘extremely’, normalised on 0% to 100% scale.Similarly, when looking at individual adverse side-effect scores, participants reported more throat irritation from the NVPs than the HTPs (Fig. Intention to switch to NVPs/HTPsThe mean intention to switch was similar for both NVPs (M = 39.3%, SD = 27.8) and HTPs (M = 34.8%, SD = 27.5) after trying each product (MD = 4.0%, 95% CI − 5.7, 13.8).Perceptions about NVPs/HTPs compared with cigarettesFigure Perceptions about the addictiveness, satisfaction, and safety of NVPs and HTPs compared with cigarettes.AttitudesParticipants had similar attitudes towards NVPs and HTPs after use (Supplementary Fig. Reasons that would motivate switching from cigarettes to NVPs/HTPsThere was little difference between products in reasons motivating participants to switch. Generally, all but one reason were endorsed, with the most highly rated focusing on the product being ‘less harmful than tobacco cigarettes’, ‘satisfying’, ‘less harmful to other people around’, and helpful to ‘stop smoking’ and ‘to cut down smoking’ (Fig. Reasons that would motivate switching from cigarettes to NVPs/HTPs. NVP = nicotine vaping product, HTP = heated tobacco product, SD = standard deviation, MD* = mean within-person difference in outcome after NVP use minus HTP use with adjustment for period, CI = Confidence Intervals. Normalised on 0% to 100% scale. Answer options on a 5-point Likert scale, 1 = ‘not at all’ to 5 = ‘extremely’, normalised on 0% to 100% scale.