Publications by authors named "SHAHAB L"

Article Synopsis
  • The study focuses on the relationship between vaping and smoking in young people, aiming to improve e-cigarette policy by addressing gaps in current research.
  • Recommendations were developed from a critical review of existing studies and stakeholder input, resulting in a final set of 23 guidelines for future research.
  • Key recommendations include considering socio-economic and contextual factors in vaping-smoking associations and ensuring representative data from diverse countries, alongside specific reporting on e-cigarette characteristics.
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Introduction: Non-combustible nicotine products are commonly used and are used alone or in combination. This study aimed to provide up-to-date estimates of the prevalence of single and multiple non-combustible nicotine product use among adults in England in 2023 and to estimate trends between 2013 and 2023.

Methods: Data were drawn from repeated cross-sectional surveys of adults (≥18y) in England conducted between January 2013 and December 2023.

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This study aimed to estimate differences in alcohol consumption, receipt of alcohol brief intervention, and alcohol reduction attempts by smoking status and use of non-combustible nicotine (including e-cigarettes, nicotine replacement therapy, heated tobacco products, or nicotine pouches). Data were from a representative household survey of adults in England (n = 188,878). Participants who reported former or current smoking scored approximately 1 point higher, on average, on the AUDIT-C (which measures alcohol consumption) than those who had never regularly smoked (B=0.

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This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: Primary objectives To evaluate the benefits and harms of oral nicotine pouches when used to help people transition away from combustible tobacco use (smoking) To evaluate the impact of oral nicotine products on the prevalence of combustible tobacco use Secondary objectives To evaluate the benefits and harms of oral nicotine pouches when used to help people transition away from other non-combustible tobacco/commercial nicotine product use To evaluate the impact of oral nicotine products on the prevalence of use of other non-combustible tobacco/commercial nicotine products.

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Aims: To assess the evidence for a relationship between the use of e-cigarettes and subsequent smoking in young people (≤29 years), and whether this differs by demographic characteristics.

Methods: Systematic review with association direction plots (searches to April 2023). Screening, data extraction and critical appraisal followed Cochrane methods.

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Background/aims: E-cigarettes are frequently used by people who smoke. This study measured how the prevalence and patterns of smoking and vaping ('dual use') in England have changed as the vaping market has rapidly evolved.

Design: Representative monthly cross-sectional survey, July 2016 to April 2024.

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Importance: A wide range of medications, noncombustible nicotine products, behavioral support, and alternative treatments are available in England to help people stop smoking. Understanding their effectiveness outside of clinical trial settings can support informed decision-making.

Objectives: To provide up-to-date estimates of the prevalence of different smoking cessation aids and associations with quit success and to explore moderation by socioeconomic position.

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Objective And Rationale: This study assessed support for novel tobacco compared with alcohol control policies among adults in Great Britain in 2021-2023. Objectives were to assess 1) overall level of support for tobacco compared to alcohol control policies; 2) level of support for tobacco compared to alcohol control policies among people who smoke tobacco or who consume alcohol at increasing and higher risk levels, or who do both; 3) level of support for tobacco compared to alcohol control policies among different sociodemographic groups?

Methods: Data were collected in September/October 2021-2023 in a monthly population-based survey on smoking and drinking behaviour of adults across Great Britain (N = 6311), weighted to match the overall population. Outcome measure was level of support for each seven tobacco and alcohol control policies.

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Background: Smoking rates in the UK have declined steadily over the past decades, masking considerable inequalities, as little change has been observed among people with a mental health condition. This trial sought to assess the feasibility and acceptability of supplying an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) starter kit for smoking cessation as an adjunct to usual care for smoking cessation, to smokers with a mental health condition treated in the community, to inform a future effectiveness trial.

Methods: This randomised controlled feasibility trial, conducted March-December 2022, compared the intervention (e-cigarette starter kit with a corresponding information leaflet and demonstration with Very Brief Advice) with a 'usual care' control at 1-month follow-up.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study analyzed trends in vaping among ex-smokers in England from 2013 to 2024, showing a significant rise in e-cigarette use for smoking cessation efforts and ongoing vaping among those who quit smoking.
  • - Data was collected from a representative sample of over 54,000 adults, revealing that e-cigarette support for quitting smoking increased from 26.9% in 2013 to 41.4% by 2024.
  • - The findings highlighted that younger ex-smokers exhibited the highest vaping rates, with current vaping among those who quit smoking lasting over a year reaching 58.9% in 18-year-olds versus only 10.7% in those aged 65 and
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Objectives: There is evidence that general practitioners (GPs) can increase the uptake of weight management programmes that enhance weight loss compared with self-directed efforts, but the rate at which they do so is unclear. This study examined the prevalence of weight control efforts and practices, the reported frequency and impact of receipt of GP advice on weight loss attempts and perceptions of the appropriateness of health professionals delivering weight loss advice.

Design: A nationally representative cross-sectional survey.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study examined tobacco smoking and vaping habits among older adults (65+) in England, focusing on their perceptions of harm regarding e-cigarettes and the effectiveness of e-cigarettes in quitting smoking.
  • Data was gathered through a large household survey from April 2014 to April 2024, comparing trends in smoking and vaping between older and younger adults while adjusting for various factors.
  • Results indicated stable smoking rates among older adults (around 9%) but rising vaping rates (from 2.1% to 3.7%), with older smokers being less likely to use e-cigarettes for quitting and expressing more uncertainty about e-cigarette harms compared to cigarettes.
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Introduction: There is majority support in parliament and across the United Kingdom to implement a "smoke-free generation" policy which would mean people born on or after January 1, 2009, could never legally be sold tobacco. To explore the potential impact this policy could have, we estimated the number of young adults (18-25 years) currently taking up smoking each year by area across the United Kingdom.

Methods: Using data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), Annual Population Survey (APS), and Smoking Toolkit Study (STS), we estimated the total number of 18- to 25-year-olds taking up smoking each year, based on national estimates of population size (ONS) and the proportion who reported ever having regularly smoked (STS).

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Background: Cigarette smoking is incredibly harmful, even for people who do not smoke every day. This study aimed to estimate trends in non-daily smoking in England between 2006 and 2024, how these differed across population subgroups, and to explore changes in the profile of non-daily smokers in terms of their sociodemographic and smoking characteristics and vaping and alcohol consumption.

Methods: Data were collected monthly between November 2006 and April 2024 as part of a nationally representative, repeat cross-sectional survey of adults (≥ 18 years; n = 353,711).

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Background: E-cigarettes are increasingly used by smokers and ex-smokers, often to support smoking cessation, but also among those who have never regularly smoked. The aim of our study is to estimate time trends in vaping prevalence among adults who have never regularly smoked and describe the profile of adult never-regular-smokers who vape.

Methods: In this nationally representative, monthly cross-sectional survey in England, 153 073 participants (aged ≥18 years) were recruited from July, 2016, to April, 2024.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the influence of close social connections on smoking and vaping behaviors among adults in England, finding that having friends or family who smoke or vape significantly increases the likelihood of an individual doing the same.
  • Results show that people with friends who smoke are more likely to smoke, and those with friends who vape are more likely to vape and use e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid.
  • While the study highlights the correlation between social ties and smoking/vaping habits, it does not establish a definitive causal relationship due to its cross-sectional design.
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Introduction: The sale of factory-made cigarettes with menthol as characterising flavour has been prohibited in Great Britain since May-2020. However, menthol accessories like flavoured filters for roll-your-own (RYO) tobacco can be sold legally, possibly undermining the policy. This study aimed to explore the association of RYO and menthol cigarette smoking.

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Background: There has been a rapid rise in disposable (single-use) e-cigarette vaping among young adults in England since June 2021 (leading to a planned ban on these products). We examined how this has affected population trends in current (i) vaping, (ii) tobacco smoking, and (iii) inhaled nicotine use.

Methods: We used data from a nationally-representative monthly repeat cross-sectional survey of adults (≥18) in England (n = 132,252; July-2016-May-2023).

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Introduction: The effectiveness of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation may differ by source of purchase. The changing influence of self-selection on purchase location caused by COVID-19 pandemic-related vape shop closures means we can examine the association between smoking abstinence e-cigarette use by purchase source and test for the moderation of this association by the timing of the pandemic.

Aims And Methods: Repeat-cross-sectional nationally representative surveys, conducted between January 2017 and August 2023.

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Objective: To examine trends in long term (>6 months) vaping among adults in England.

Design: Population based study.

Setting: England.

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Importance: With the prevalence of e-cigarette use (vaping) increasing worldwide, there are concerns about children's exposure to secondhand vapor.

Objective: To compare nicotine absorption among children who are (1) exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke only or (2) exposed to secondhand vapor only with (3) those exposed to neither.

Design, Setting, And Participants: The US Continuous National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is a repeat cross-sectional survey.

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Objectives: This study explores the association between vaccine hesitancy, vaccine knowledge and psychological well-being with (1) receipt of/willingness to receive an initial vaccine against COVID-19, and (2) willingness to get vaccinated yearly against COVID-19. The importance of different vaccine attributes (eg, vaccine technology, effectiveness, side effects) to choose a specific COVID-19 vaccine was also assessed.

Design: Cross-sectional survey administered during May to June 2021 on vaccine hesitancy, vaccine knowledge, psychological well-being, willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccines, sociodemographics and COVID-19-related factors.

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Background And Aims: In March 2024, the UK government announced plans to introduce a Vaping Products Duty that will tax e-liquids based on their nicotine strength. This study examined trends in the nicotine strength of e-liquids used by adult vapers and differences in those currently used across relevant subgroups.

Design: Nationally-representative, cross-sectional household survey, July 2016 to January 2024.

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Background: In the UK in May 2016, standardised packaging of tobacco products was implemented, including minimum pack sizes of 20 sticks or 30 g loose tobacco. The change was intended to reduce uptake by increasing upfront costs to young people, but there was concern it may unintentionally increase consumption among people smoking. This study aimed to assess whether the introduction of the policy was associated with changes in (1) mean daily factory-made (FM)/roll-your-own (RYO) cigarettes consumption among people smoking predominantly (a) FM and (b) RYO cigarettes; and (2) current smoking prevalence among 16-24-year-olds.

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