Electronic cigarettes as a harm reduction strategy in people living with HIV/AIDS
Brief description of study
People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are known to have exceptionally higher rate of cigarette smoking and very low quit rates compared to the general population. Although a primary rationale for conducting this study is reducing health disparities among PLWHA, there is a potential benefit of the proposed work from a prevention perspective given that combustible cigarette smoking is an independent risk factor for non-adherence to ART and may decrease the effectiveness of HAART (1-5). Smoking-related illnesses are leading causes of non-HIV/AIDS-related deaths among People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). (6) There are major yet unique barriers to combustible cigarette (CC) cessation among PLWHA.7? Additionally, FDA approved CC cessation medications have not been effective with this population. (8-11) Electronic cigarettes (E-cigarettes) could help people reduce the harm of CC through reductions in number of Cigarettes per Day (CPD) or quitting CC completely by addressing both nicotine and behavioral dependence. (12-14) A harm reduction approach may be more appropriate to use with PLWHA.15 This mixed-methods study’s purpose is to identify barriers and facilitators, as well as assess preliminary effectiveness of e-cigarettes as a harm reduction strategy among PLWHA.
If you are registered as a volunteer, please log in to contact the study team/express interest in this study.
