Review: all forms of nicotine replacement therapy are effective for smoking cessation
Q What is the effectiveness of different preparations of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) in achieving long term smoking cessation?
METHODS
Data sources:
Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group Specialized Trial Register, which is based on searches of the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Issue 4, 2003), Medline, EMBASE/Excerpta Medica, PsycLIT/PsycINFO, and Science Citation Index.
Study selection and assessment:
randomised controlled trials (RCTs) ⩾6 months in duration that compared NRT (including gum, transdermal patch, intranasal spray, and inhaled and oral preparations) with placebo or no treatment, or compared different doses of NRT, and assessed smoking cessation. Methodological quality of individual trials was assessed for randomisation method, outcome assessment, and bias control.
Outcomes:
smoking cessation (abstinence from smoking for ⩾6 mo).
MAIN RESULTS
123 RCTs met …
