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Individual behavioural counselling for smoking cessation
1ICRF General Practice Research Group, Division of Public Health and Primary Health Care, Institute of Health Sciences, Old Road, Headington, Oxford, UK, OX3 7LF. tim.lancaster@dphpc.ox.ac.uk
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|May 5, 2000
Summary
Individual counseling significantly increases successful smoking cessation rates compared to minimal intervention. More intensive counseling or group therapy did not show a greater effect.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Behavioral Science
- Addiction Medicine
Background:
- Individual counseling by smoking cessation specialists may improve quit rates.
- Smoking cessation remains a significant public health challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of individual counseling for smoking cessation.
- To compare different intensities of counseling and individual vs. group therapy.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of randomized and quasi-randomized trials.
- Searched Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group trials register for studies including 'counseling'.
- Included trials with face-to-face individual counseling and at least six-month follow-up for smoking cessation.
Main Results:
- Eleven trials were identified, comparing individual counseling to minimal intervention, different intensities, or group therapy.
- Individual counseling was significantly more effective than minimal intervention (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.27-1.90).
- No significant difference was found between more intensive and brief counseling, or between individual and group therapy.
Conclusions:
- Individual smoking cessation counseling is an effective intervention.
- Counseling assists smokers in achieving successful cessation.