Effectiveness of Digital Intervention for Tobacco Cessation Among Adults: A Systematic Review.

Abstract

Background: The use of tobacco continues to pose a major public health issue worldwide, requiring effective cessation programs. Digital interventions present advantageous opportunities owing to their accessibility and scalability. This systematic review seeks to consolidate current research on the efficacy of digital interventions for tobacco cessation in adults.

Methods: We performed a search utilizing pertinent keywords and databases. The search approach encompassed terms including "digital interventions," "smoking cessation," "adults," and their permutations. Our primary focus was on academic databases including PubMed, EBSCO, Cochrane, and specialized journals pertaining to public health and smoking cessation. Search terms were limited to the English language exclusively. Databases from 2013 to 2023 were covered. Two writers independently collected data on cessation results and evaluated the likelihood of bias. A random effects meta-analysis was performed.

Findings: Following the search, 305 articles were identified. After omitting 151 duplicates, 198 unique papers were analyzed. Of the 47 publications that underwent full-text examination, 8 were finally incorporated into this analysis. Subgroup analysis examined differences in intervention efficacy according to length, intervention type, and participant attributes.

Conclusion: Digital treatments demonstrate the potential to facilitate smoke cessation in adults. Nonetheless, disparities in intervention design and participant attributes affect their efficacy. Additional studies are necessary to clarify effective intervention tactics and fill literature gaps, especially for long-term results and the scalability of digital therapies across varied populations.