Table 1.
Associations between characteristics of the sample and use of different quitting methods
| E-cigarettes (n = 464) | NRT over-the-counter§ (n = 1922) | No aid (n = 3477) | P | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean (SD) age | 39.0 (15.6)a | 41.2 (15.3)ab | 37.5 (16.2)b | *** |
| % (n) Female | 47.2 (219) | 51.1 (982) | 48.9 (1699) | NS |
| % Social grade C2DE | 59.3 (275)cd | 65.9 (1266)c | 65.5 (2277)d | * |
| Mean (SD) cigarettes per day¶ | 12.6 (8.0)ef | 13.8 (8.5)eg | 10.9 (8.1)fg | *** |
| % (n) < 1 cigarettes per day¶ | 0.7 (3)h | 0.8 (15)i | 2.8 (94)hi | *** |
| % (n) Time since quit attempt started >26 weeks | 23.7 (110)jk | 36.4 (700)j | 36.5 (1269)k | *** |
| Mean (SD) quit attempts in the past year | 1.6 (0.9) | 1.6 (0.9) | 1.5 (0.9) | NS |
| Mean (SD) time spent with urges to smoke (0–5) | 1.9 (1.3)l | 2.2 (1.3)lm | 1.8 (1.3)m | *** |
| Mean (SD) strength of urges to smoke (0–5) | 2.0 (1.2)no | 2.2 (1.1)np | 1.8 (1.1)op | *** |
| Mean (SD) heaviness of smoking index† | 2.0 (1.5)qr | 2.3 (1.5)qs | 1.6 (1.5)rs | *** |
| % (n) Abrupt attempt (no gradual cutting down first) | 50.4 (234)t | 52.5 (1010)u | 59.0 (2051)tu | *** |
Different pairs of superscript letters indicate a significant difference (P < 0.05) between two groups after Sidak adjustment for multiple comparisons.
P < 0.05;
P < 0.001; NS = not statistically significant (P ≥ 0.05).
A subgroup of those using nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) over-the-counter provided information about the form of NRT (n = 975): 60.0% (585) used a patch, 21.0% (205) gum, 14.9% (145) an inhalator, 6.2% (60) lozenges, 1.2% (12) microtabs and 1.0% (10) nasal spray. NB: response options were not mutually exclusive and 11.1% (108) reported using more than one form.
Data were missing for 156 respondents (e-cigarettes: 22; NRT over-the-counter: 34; no aid: 100).
Data were missing for 172 respondents (e-cigarettes: 23; NRT over-the-counter: 36; no aid: 113). SD = standard deviation.