A systematic review of the effect of smoking cessation interventions

What is it about?

Smoking is still the deadliest preventable lifestyle factor worldwide, however most smokers want to quit. To help smokers in the best possible way, the most effective smoking cessation program should be offered to those in need, but standard treatments differ substantially, and guidelines recommend programs regardless of effect. In this study we wanted to evaluate how effective intensive smoking cessation programs are compared to shorter interventions in helping smokers become successful quitters. We found 17 studies fulfilling the criteria for our investigation. Based on these studies we found that intensive smoking cessation programs helped more than twice as many smokers to become continuously successful quitters in the long-term, meaning that they had not smoked at all 6-12 months after the program.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

Intensive interventions are highly effective compared to shorter intervention in helping smokers become successful quitters. This important knowledge should be used to avoid that people develop diseases or die due to smoking.