Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 December 2014
Background: Smoking cessation is most needed but, least accessible public health intervention in developing countries. Practicality of smoking cessation interventions determines their feasibility to implement in resource-limited setting.
Objectives: This review aimed at identifying strategic mechanisms to launch accessible smoking cessation services within primary health care settings of developing countries.
Methods: The efficacy of smoking cessation methods were reviewed in Cochrane reviews and clinical trials. Relevant research with an outcome of smoking cessation for six months and articles published after 2000 indexed in the PubMed database were reviewed. The practicality of each intervention was narratively appraised with further reviewing relevant effectiveness trials and observational studies.
Finding and discussion: Contemporary evidence favours multi-components smoking cessation strategy combining more than one efficacy-proven methods such as brief advice, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and nursing intervention. Future trials to evaluate social and family influences on smoking behaviour in combination with above interventions are necessary. Moreover, training health care professionals in primary health care to implement smoking cessation intervention may overcome human resource insufficiency and ensure smokers’ access to cessation service within the community setting.