E-cigarettes used as an alternative form of nicotine replacement were well tolerated by alcoholics in the study who were trying to refrain from smoking. (File photo)

Electronic cigarettes could help recovering alcoholics and other patients, new research has found.

Researchers say the use of e-cigarettes in hospitals should be given more thought, as they could lessen the stress of patients' treatment.

Dr Penelope Truman from Massey University's School of Health Sciences said their research found e-cigarettes could aid patients battling alcohol addiction and patients admitted to psychiatric units.

More than 40 patients at Kenepuru Hospital in Porirua were studied in two cohorts between 2013 and 2016.

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Dr Truman said there were similar reductions in smoking when patients were offered e-cigarettes or conventional nicotine-replacement therapies, such as patches or gum.

The trial showed there were no "significant" problems with patients using e-cigarettes in a hospital setting, and they could be beneficial, Truman said.

Going outside for a smoke could create a lot of problems for patients and the staff trying to care for them, she said.

Alcoholics who were also smokers were offered the option of using an electronic cigarette as well as, or instead of, conventional nicotine replacement therapy to stop smoking while in hospital.

The e-cigarettes proved to be more popular than standard therapy, and were at least as effective,Truman said.

E-cigarette use in hospitals should be explored further as a smoking substitute or to improve patient management, she said.

"This is only a little trial, but I think it does raise some questions. A lot of people are going to have to reconsider how they feel about people vaping around them, because it's going to become increasingly popular."

The study was led by Truman, with community specialist detox nurse Moira Gilmour and physician Dr Geoffrey Robinson from the Capital and Coast District Health Board.

Gilmour said smoking had been problematic for patients trying to withdraw from alcohol. It was also an issue for patients admitted to psychiatric units.

The need to stop smoking was additional stress for patients, she said.

"Staff also felt stressed in trying to manage the risks associated with patients leaving the ward to smoke."

The e-cigarette alternative was found to be more acceptable to this patient group and supported the health board's non-smoking policy, Gilmour said.

"This was seen to reduce stress of both patients and staff, as patients were happy to remain on the ward while using the e-cigarette," she said.

"This had a positive effect on treatment, and there was an increase in patients' confidence to continue to work on reducing cigarette smoking once back in the community."

The research paper was published in the New Zealand Medical Journal on Friday.