Electronic cigarette use among patients with cancer: Reasons for use, beliefs, and patient‐provider communication

Objective Smoking tobacco cigarettes after a cancer diagnosis increases risk for several serious adverse outcomes. Thus, patients can significantly benefit from quitting smoking. Electronic cigarettes are an increasingly popular cessation method. Providers routinely ask about combustible cigarette use, yet little is known about use and communication surrounding e‐cigarettes among patients with cancer. This study aims to describe patterns, beliefs, and communication with oncology providers about e‐cigarette use of patients with cancer. Methods Patients with cancer (N = 121) who currently used e‐cigarettes were surveyed in a cross‐sectional study about their patterns and reasons for use, beliefs, and perceptions of risk for e‐cigarettes, combustible cigarettes, and nicotine replacement therapies. Patient perspectives on provider communication regarding e‐cigarettes were also assessed. Results Most participants identified smoking cessation as the reason for initiating (81%) and continuing (60%) e‐cigarette use. However, 51% of patients reported current dual use of combustible cigarettes and e‐cigarettes, and most patients reported never having discussed their use of e‐cigarettes with their oncology provider (72%). Patients characterized e‐cigarettes as less addictive, less expensive, less stigmatizing, and less likely to impact cancer treatment than combustible cigarettes (Ps