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The New Zealand (NZ) government quickly identified the role e-cigarettes (ECs) have as a reduced-harm product to help smokers switch away from tobacco. ECs are included as an option in NZs smoking cessation treatment guidelines, and clear messaging regarding their use is promoted by NZ health authorities (https://vapingfacts.health.nz). The first ECs delivered nicotine at similar levels to nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products, but with rapid product innovation, new pod-based devices using nicotine salts deliver nicotine at levels comparable to that of smoked tobacco. Given the long-term health effects of EC use remain uncertain and that not vaping (use of an EC) or smoking is ideal from a public health perspective, it’s important to offer support to people who wish to switch from ECs to no product use. However, little evidence exists on the best way to support people to move away from ECs, and no data exists for NZ. We have therefore designed a survey to collect information from vapers and ex-vapers about enablers and barriers to becoming vape-free.

AIM: The purpose of this article is to examine disparities in the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to lung cancer diagnosis and access to clinical services between Māori and non-Māori. METHODS: Using national-level data, we examined age-standardised lung cancer registrations, diagnostic procedures (bronchoscopy) and lung surgeries separately by ethnic group for the years 2018-2020, as well as patterns of stage of diagnosis. RESULTS: We found a trend toward a reduction in rates of lung cancer registration in Māori (but not non-Māori/non-Pacific) New Zealanders in 2020 compared to 2018 and 2019, but no apparent shift in the distribution of stage at diagnosis. We found a trend toward a reduction in rates of bronchoscopy for both Māori and non-Māori/non-Pacific patients, with the largest reduction observed for Māori. Rates of lung cancer surgery appeared to have reduced for Māori patients, although this was based on a small number of procedures. CONCLUSIONS: We observed disparities between Māori and non-Māori/non-Pacific patients in lung cancer registration and bronchoscopy as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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