Background: Smoking cessation remains a critical public health challenge, necessitating effective interventions to reduce tobacco use and associated health risks. This review synthesizes findings from various studies investigating the efficacy of mobile apps, behavioral counseling, and combined therapies in promoting smoking cessation.
Methodology: A comprehensive literature review was conducted, analyzing studies. The review included randomized controlled trials, pragmatic trials, and multi-center trials focusing on smoking cessation interventions. Participant demographics, study designs, intervention types, primary and secondary outcome measures, and follow-up durations were examined to evaluate the effectiveness of different smoking cessation strategies.
Results: The studies reviewed utilized a range of interventions, including mobile apps (e.g., Crush the Crave, MobileQuit, and e-Tabac Info Service), behavioral counseling (e.g., motivational interviewing and community-based participatory research), and combined therapies (e.g., mobile apps with psychopharmacological treatments). Mobile apps demonstrated varying degrees of effectiveness, with some studies reporting higher abstinence rates and improved engagement, while others showed no significant difference compared to control interventions. Behavioral interventions and combined therapies generally indicated positive outcomes, such as higher biochemically confirmed abstinence rates and increased smoking abstinence in specific populations. Variability in study designs and participant characteristics highlighted the need for standardized outcome measures and longer follow-up periods to assess sustained abstinence.
Conclusion: Smoking cessation interventions, particularly mobile apps and behavioral strategies, are promising in promoting tobacco cessation. Mobile apps enhance engagement and short-term abstinence but show variable effectiveness based on design and participant adherence. Behavioral counseling and combined therapies demonstrate potential synergistic effects, especially when tailored to specific populations. Future research should focus on standardized outcome measures, extended follow-up durations, and comparative effectiveness studies to optimize smoking cessation strategies and improve public health outcomes.
Key words: Smoking cessation, mobile apps, behavioural counselling, combined therapies, randomized controlled trials, abstinence rates, tobacco use, public health, psychopharmacological treatments, intervention strategies.
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