A review of vaping's health effects, treatment, and policy implications: Nursing's call to action.
Kelly Buettner-Schmidt, Kolby Schaeffer Fraase, Mykell Barnacle and 4 others
PMID 39186124WHAT IT FOUND
Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) pose significant respiratory, cardiovascular, and mental health risks, particularly to youth.
Nurses should assess for ENDS use at every encounter, advise cessation, and refer to evidence-based treatments, noting that variable nicotine content requires careful dosing of replacement therapy.
Key findings
01Nicotine dependence levels in young adults using e-cigarettes were more than twice as high as those smoking traditional cigarettes.
02ENDS use is associated with acute airway inflammation, reduced oxygen saturation, increased heart rate, and higher rates of anxiety and depression in youth.
03FDA-approved medications for tobacco dependence are reasonable options for ENDS cessation, but dosing requires close monitoring due to variable nicotine content in ENDS products.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
This is a narrative review, not a systematic review or meta-analysis, so it may reflect author selection bias. The evidence base for ENDS-specific treatment protocols is limited, with most recommendations extrapolated from cigarette cessation data. Long-term health effects of ENDS use are still unknown due to the relative newness of the products. Nicotine content in ENDS varies widely from labeled amounts, making standardized dosing difficult.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The work was not funded by any specific grant or commercial entity.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that standard cigarette cessation dosing is appropriate for ENDS users without adjustment. ENDS nicotine content varies significantly from labels and can be much higher, requiring careful monitoring and potential dose escalation of nicotine replacement therapy to prevent withdrawal or continued use.