In addition to thanking the funders for their support throughout the research process, we would also like to thank Alicja Pytlik, Dr Catherine Kimber and Emily Hussey for their support in assisting with the running of this study.
We would especially like to thank the homeless charities involved – the Northampton Hope Centre, St Mungo’s, London, and the Salvation Army, Edinburgh – and the support workers who provided exceptional levels of assistance and continual support.
We would also like to thank our Trial Steering Committee for their counsel and advice throughout the process. Members: Professor Ann McNeill, Martin Dockrell, Louise Ross, Sarah Jakes, Matthew Carlisle, Vicky Salt, Hazel Cheeseman and Melanie Getty.
Ethics consent was gained from London South Bank University School of Applied Sciences [REF: SAS 1821 (quantitative component) and SAS 1830 (qualitative component)], and also from the University of Stirling.
The electronic cigarettes were funded by the Centre for Addictive Behaviours Research, School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University.
Contributions of authors
Sharon Cox (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8494-5105) conceptualised the study with Lynne Dawkins, led the early stage PPI work, led the daily running of the project, led on the writing of this report and contributed to the writing of other outputs.
Allison Ford (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3624-6673) led the qualitative process evaluation and led the Scottish site. She led the writing of the qualitative component and wrote the process evaluation outcomes for this report.
Jinshuo Li (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1496-7450) led the economic evaluation and contributed to the writing of this report and the economic outcomes for the quantitative paper.
Catherine Best (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3652-2498) led the statistical elements for the study and contributed to the writing of this report.
Allan Tyler (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1210-8476) led the data collection at the London and Northampton sites, assisted with data curation and preparation, and qualitative data analysis, and has contributed to the writing of all the outputs.
Deborah J Robson (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6447-3523) prepared and led the staff training for the study and has contributed to the writing of all the outputs.
Linda Bauld (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7411-4260) has provided trial expertise throughout the whole study and has contributed to the writing of all the outputs.
Peter Hajek (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9160-4296) has provided expertise in smoking cessation, EC use and trial methodology throughout the whole study and has contributed to the writing of all the outputs.
Isabelle Uny (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9548-5332) contributed to the data collection and data preparation and curation at the Scottish site, contributed to the analysis of the qualitative data and has contributed to the writing of all the outputs.
Steve J Parrott (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0165-1150) helped to design the economic evaluation in the early stages of the study and also oversaw the economic evaluation analysis. He has contributed to the writing of all the outputs.
Lynne Dawkins (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1236-009X) is the principal investigator and conceptualised the study with Sharon Cox. She assisted with the daily project running, and oversaw data analysis and writing of all output.
Publication
Dawkins L, Bauld L, Ford A, Robson D, Hajek P, Parrott S, et al. A cluster feasibility trial to explore the uptake and use of e-cigarettes versus usual care offered to smokers attending homeless centres in Great Britain. PLOS ONE 2020;15:e0240968.
Data-sharing statement
The fully anonymised data have been made publicly available by the principal investigator’s institute, in the London South Bank University’s open repository (https://openresearch.lsbu.ac.uk/item/8q255).
Disclaimers
This report presents independent research funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The views and opinions expressed by authors in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the NHS, the NIHR, NETSCC, the PHR programme or the Department of Health and Social Care. If there are verbatim quotations included in this publication the views and opinions expressed by the interviewees are those of the interviewees and do not necessarily reflect those of the authors, those of the NHS, the NIHR, NETSCC, the PHR programme or the Department of Health and Social Care.