UK researchers have declared that nicotine e-cigarettes are far more effective at helping patients quit smoking than traditional nicotine replacement therapy “for at least six months”.

In an updated Cochrane review, the University of Oxford–led team concluded for the first time there was “high-certainty evidence” that vaping products with nicotine increased quit rates compared with other forms of smoking cessation.

They also found that e-cigarettes with nicotine were more effective for quitting than nicotine-free vaping products; behavioural support, such as counselling; and no treatment.

“For every 100 people using nicotine e-cigarettes to stop smoking, nine to 14 might successfully stop, compared with only six of 100 people using [nicotine replacement therapy], seven of 100 using e-cigarettes without nicotine or four of 100 people having no support or behavioural support only,” the authors wrote.