Use of flavor capsule cigarettes and their preliminary impact on smoking cessation in Mexico: an exploratory study

• Published in: Journal of health, population and nutrition Vol. 44; no. 1; pp. 22 - 5
• Main Authors: Rodríguez-Bolaños, Rosibel, Ramírez-Palacios, Paula, Gallegos-Carrillo, Katia, Chávez-Iñiguez, Arlette, Lara, Daimarelys, Ossip, Deborah J., Cupertino, Ana Paula, Cartujano-Barrera, Francisco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bangladesh BioMed Central Ltd 29.01.2025; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adult; Brief Report; Capsules; Female; Flavor capsule cigarettes; Flavoring Agents - administration & dosage; Humans; Information management; Male; Menthol; Mexico - epidemiology; Middle Aged; Smoking; Smoking - epidemiology; Smoking cessation; Smoking Cessation - methods; Smoking Cessation - statistics & numerical data; Smoking cessation programs; Tobacco Products - statistics & numerical data; Young Adult; Mexico; Flavor capsule cigarettes; Smoking cessation; Smoking
• ISSN: 2072-1315; 1606-0997; 2072-1315
• DOI: 10.1186/s41043-025-00752-2

No study has assessed the impact of flavor capsule cigarettes (FCCs) on smoking cessation. Thus, the purpose of this exploratory study was to assess (1) the sociodemographic and smoking-related characteristics associated with using FCCs, and (2) the preliminary impact of FCCs on smoking cessation. This study is a secondary data analysis of a single-arm study with 100 individuals living in Mexico who smoked and received a smoking cessation mHealth intervention and pharmacotherapy support. The primary outcomes were self-reported and biochemically verified 7-day smoking abstinence at Month 3. Just over one-third of participants (36%) used FCCs, with a preference for one capsule and menthol/mint flavor. Compared to participants who smoked non-FCCs, participants who smoked FCCs were (1) younger, (2) more likely to be women, and (3) more likely to smoke less than 10 cigarettes per day (CPD; all p's < 0.05). After controlling for all significant associations, age younger than 50 years old (AOR = 3.26, 95% CI 1.25-8.51) and being a woman (AOR = 3.62, 95% CI 1.41-9.35) were positively and independently associated with smoking FCCs. Treating those lost to follow-up as participants who continued smoking, 41.7% (15/36) of participants who smoked FCCs self-reported smoking abstinence at month 3 compared to 42.2% (27/64) of participants who smoked non-FCCs (p = 0.96). Furthermore, 33.3% (12/36) of participants who smoked FCCs were biochemically verified abstinent at Month 3 compared to 18.8% (12/64) of participants who smoked non-FCCs (p = 0.10). Younger age and being a woman were associated with using FCCs. Self-reported smoking abstinence at Month 3 was comparable between participants who smoke FCCs and non-FCCs. However, biochemically verified abstinent at Month 3 was higher among participants who smoke FCCs compared to participants who smoke non-FCCs, although the difference was not statistically significant. Prospective and adequately powered comparisons must be made between individuals who smoke FCCs and non-FCCs to effectively assess differences in smoking abstinence, and the reasons for these differences.