Efficacy of non-pharmacological methods used for treating tobacco dependence: meta-analysis

Objectives. The present paper discusses available data concerning the efficacy of non-pharmacological methods used in smoking cessation and describes the results of newly performed meta-analyses testing the 12-month efficacy of these methods. This study is part of a more comprehensive program analyzing the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of different methods used in smoking cessation. Patients and methods. During the first stage of the study a systematic review of available data was made in order to identify methods used in smoking cessation and assess their efficacy on the basis of already existing reliable systematic reviews or meta-analyses. In the second stage of the study the efficacious and available in Poland methods (identified during the first stage by available data search and interviews with healthcare providers) were tested using new meta-analyses with the aim to define their efficacy in achieving at least the12-month continuous or prolonged abstinence. Results. The findings of the first stage of the study revealed that the reviews performed according to the Cochrane Collaboration methodology contained the most complete and up-to-date data. Meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials performed during the second part of the study showed that non-pharmacological smoking cessation methods available in Poland, namely the physician’s simple advice and individual and group counseling, increased the probability of smoking cessation and smoking abstinence for ≥12 months by 1.5 to 2 times and the number of patients who need to be treated to have one patient who stops smoking was about 30 for more intensive methods and 60 for the physician’s simple advice. Conclusions. The study confirmed that non-pharmacological smoking cessation methods available in Poland, i.e. the physician’s advice and individual and group counseling, increase the probability of smoking abstinence, and determined the 12-month effects of these interventions.