Exploring the uptake and use of electronic cigarettes provided to smokers accessing homeless centres: a four-centre cluster feasibility study

Background Smoking prevalence is extremely high in adults experiencing homelessness and there is little evidence regarding which cessation interventions work best. This study explored the feasibility of providing free e-cigarette (EC) starter kits to smokers accessing homeless centres in the UK Objectives Seven key objectives were examined to inform a future trial. 1: Assess willingness of smokers to participate in the study to estimate recruitment rates. 2: Assess participant retention in the intervention and control groups. 3: Examine the perceived value of the intervention, facilitators and barriers to engagement and influence of local context. 4: Assess service providers’ capacity to support the study and the type of information and training required. 5: Assess the potential efficacy of supplying free EC starter kits. 6: Explore the feasibility of collecting data on contact with health care services as an input to a main economic evaluation. 7: Estimate the cost of providing the intervention and usual care. Design A prospective cohort four-centre pragmatic cluster feasibility study with embedded qualitative process evaluation. Setting Four homeless centres. Two residential units in London, England. One day centre in Northampton, England. One day centre in Edinburgh, Scotland. Intervention Intervention arm: A single refillable EC was provided with e-liquid provided once a week for four weeks (choice of three flavours: fruit, menthol, tobacco and two nicotine strengths: 12mg/mL or 18mg/mL). Written information for EC use and support. Usual care arm: Written information on quitting smoking (adapted from NHS Choices) and signposting to the local stop smoking service (SSS). Results Fifty-two percent of eligible participants invited to take part in the study were successfully recruited (56% in the EC arm; 50.5% in the UC arm; total N=80). Retention rates were 75%, 63% and 59% respectively at 4, 12 and 24 weeks. The qualitative component found perceived value of the intervention was high. Barriers were ...