OBJECTIVES: There is a pressing need to clarify the role of smoking cessation interventions (SCI) in the care of people with LC. Given the lack of studies reporting results from RCTs, A systematic review was conducted to assess the efficacy/effectiveness of SCI in people with LC.

METHODS: Embase and Medline were comprehensively searched from database inception to May 2022 for relevant studies published in English. Data related to the effects of SCI were identified and extracted from the included studies.

RESULTS: A total of seven studies were identified. Three studies were prospective; two were retrospective, one was a randomized trial, and one was a quasi-experimental study. All studies, but one, were conducted in the US. The sample size varied from 6 to 338 people. SCI included behavioral counseling with or without pharmacological interventions (varenicline, bupropion, or nicotine-replacement therapy). Outcomes assessed were patient-reported and/or biochemically tested quit and abstinence rates at three and six months. Methodological limitations precluded any formal data synthesis for included RCT assessing the efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation. Seven-day-point-prevalence-abstinence (PPA) rates were generally higher at 3-month follow-up (46%-65%) compared with rates at 6-month follow-up (22%-53%), and it further reduced to 40% at 9-month follow-up. Among two studies comparing different SCI, higher self-reported quit rates were observed at three months for assisted vs. referred pharmacy-driven SCI (56% versus 43%) and at 6-month for nurse-managed SCI vs. usual care (71% vs. 55%).

CONCLUSIONS: The lack of good-quality studies identified in the review precludes any firm conclusions on the absolute or comparative effectiveness of available SCI for people with LC. There is an apparent motivation among people with LC to quit smoking, and there are proven benefits of quitting smoking; therefore, there is a need to perform good quality studies assessing the effectiveness of available SCI in LC.