Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Only randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were eligible for inclusion.
Specific interventions included in the review
The inclusion criterion was a social support intervention, including the use of a 'buddy'. The actual intervention included was the addition of a buddy to the standard smoking control programme. The standard control programmes were group meetings, meetings with a nurse, therapist or counsellor support, nicotine gum, psychosocial treatment, written materials, a stop smoking TV programme, and a self-help quit smoking programme. Many of the programmes were worksite based.
Participants included in the review
Studies of smokers who wanted to stop were eligible for inclusion in the review. The actual participants included pregnant teenagers, smoking couples, and smokers in a worksite clinic, community sample and general practice.
Outcomes assessed in the review
Studies that measured smoking abstinence were eligible for inclusion. Smoking abstinence was measured by self-report, reductions in carbon monoxide levels, salivary cotinine and/or thiocyanate assessment, and verification by informants. A secondary outcome was the level of smoking-related support, most often measured by the Partner Interaction Questionnaire.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The authors did not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many reviewers performed the selection.