Four RCTs (n=610 patients, range 47 to 237 patients) were included. Follow-up periods ranged from three weeks to 12 months; only one RCT followed patients for up to one year. Randomisation, allocation concealment, blinding and outcome assessment were adequate in all included studies. Follow-up was not complete in any trials. All trials performed intention-to-treat analyses.
Interventions were associated with a higher cessation rate at the three- to six-month follow-up period compared to controls (OR 1.58, 95% 1.02 to 2.45, I2=0%; n=520 patients, four RCTs).
There was no significant difference between intervention and control groups in the only trial with a longer follow-up period of 12 months (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.53 to 2.09; n=169 patients, one RCT).
Sensitivity analyses did not change the overall effects.