E-cigarettes may help smokers quit more effectively than traditional methods such as patches and gum, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of Oxford. The study, published in the journal Addiction, also highlights ongoing health concerns associated with vaping.

The researchers analyzed 14 systematic reviews conducted between 2014 and 2023 to evaluate the effectiveness of nicotine e-cigarettes for smoking cessation. Their findings suggest that e-cigarettes outperform conventional nicotine replacement therapies. One 2024 Cochrane review cited in the study found that for every 100 users, an additional two to five people quit smoking when using nicotine e-cigarettes compared to using patches or gum.

Angela Difeng Wu, senior researcher and lecturer at the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences at Oxford, said the evidence is “clear and consistent across all of the meta-analyses we consulted: e-cigarettes are effective at helping people stop smoking.” The team also developed an “Evidence and Gap Map” to highlight areas where further research is needed.

While e-cigarettes appear effective, the researchers noted that evidence on serious adverse events remains inconclusive. Most other side effects showed little or no difference between nicotine e-cigarettes and other cessation treatments. Experts caution that while vaping is less harmful than smoking combustible tobacco, it is not risk-free.

A February 2026 study found that e-cigarette users are exposed to carcinogenic chemicals, though at lower levels than smokers of traditional tobacco products. The long-term health impacts of e-cigarettes remain uncertain, partly because the products are relatively new and continue to evolve.

Despite their potential to reduce smoking, e-cigarettes have raised public health concerns, particularly among young people. The World Health Organization estimated in 2025 that over 100 million people worldwide use e-cigarettes, including at least 15 million children aged 13 to 15. In countries with available data, children are on average nine times more likely than adults to vape.

“E-cigarettes are fuelling a new wave of nicotine addiction,” said WHO’s Etienne Krug. “They are marketed as harm reduction but, in reality, are hooking kids on nicotine earlier and risk undermining decades of progress.”

The Oxford study emphasizes that uncertainties about e-cigarettes’ long-term effects and their role in smoking cessation continue to influence policy and clinical decision-making. Researchers stress that e-cigarettes should be considered as tools for current smokers attempting to quit, rather than products for non-smokers or young people.

The study contributes to the growing body of evidence supporting nicotine e-cigarettes as an alternative to traditional cessation methods, while underscoring the need for ongoing monitoring and regulation to prevent uptake among children and non-smokers.

A new international study has found that working from home may be contributing to higher birth rates, offering fresh insight into how flexible work arrangements are reshaping family life.

The research, conducted by Steven J. Davis and colleagues and published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, examined data from 38 countries, including several in Europe and North America. It found that couples who both work from home at least one day a week tend to have more children than those who work entirely on-site.

According to the study, lifetime fertility increases by an average of 0.32 children per woman when both partners work remotely at least part-time. In the United States, the effect is even stronger, rising to 0.45 children per woman.

Researchers define lifetime fertility as the total number of children a person has or plans to have. The study focused on adults aged between 20 and 45 who were actively employed. Among couples where neither partner works from home, the average number of children per woman stands at 2.26. This figure rises to 2.48 when only the woman works remotely and increases further to 2.58 when both partners do so.

The findings suggest that even limited access to remote work can influence family planning decisions. Analysts say the flexibility offered by working from home may make it easier for parents to balance careers with childcare responsibilities. This could encourage couples to have more children or to expand their families sooner than they otherwise would.

The report outlines several possible explanations. One is that remote work reduces the logistical challenges of raising children while maintaining employment. Another is that families who plan to have children may actively seek jobs that offer flexible arrangements. A third possibility is that the availability of such roles increases long-term confidence in balancing work and family life.

The study found consistent patterns both before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, indicating that the relationship between remote work and fertility is not limited to recent changes in working habits.

However, the impact varies significantly between countries. The share of workers who spend at least one day working from home ranges widely, from about 21 percent in Japan to nearly 60 percent in Vietnam. As a result, the overall effect on national birth rates depends largely on how common remote work is within each economy.

In the United States, researchers estimate that working from home could account for around 8.1 percent of total births, equivalent to roughly 291,000 births annually. While not the sole factor influencing fertility, the study suggests it plays a meaningful role alongside economic and social conditions.

The researchers caution against uniform policies mandating remote work, noting that preferences and job requirements differ widely. They warn that inflexible approaches could reduce productivity and job satisfaction.

Separate findings from the UK Parliament indicate that flexible working arrangements may also improve employment opportunities, particularly for parents, caregivers and people with disabilities.