Electronic Cigarettes for Smoking Cessation: Cochrane Living Systematic Review

Since coming on the market over a decade ago, electronic cigarettes have caused a considerable stir in the public health community. It is of prime importance that the debate around this issue is based on high quality, relevant and up to date scientific data.

We want to be able to include all the evidence as it becomes available to ensure that the findings are as comprehensive as possible. With support from Cancer Research UK, we are searching monthly for new evidence for our Cochrane review of electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation (a “living systematic review” approach). Cochrane systematic reviews are recognised as the highest standard in evidence-based healthcare, bringing together primary research data to facilitate evidence based choices about health interventions. In April 2021 the first update to the review since it became a living review has been published.

Since its first publication in 2014, this review has contributed to national and international guidelines. There is a huge amount of misinformation circulating about electronic cigarettes, and we are actively involved in sharing the evidence with diverse audiences. This webpage provides the latest information from and on our review, which evaluates the safety and effect of using e-cigarettes to help people quit smoking. For our key findings see the latest version of the living review or our briefing documents, links above.

This review has informed numerous national and international healthcare guidelines. Click here for examples.

Older reviews: 

Electronic Cigarettes for Smoking Cessation (2020)

Electronic Cigarettes for Smoking Cessation (2018)

Electronic Cigarettes for Smoking Cessation (2016)

Electronic Cigarettes for Smoking Cessation (2014) - cited in 12 Cochrane guidelines.

Partnerships

Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group

National Institute for Health Research

Cancer Research UK