Talks helped non-pregnant smokers stay off cigarettes longer, by a little

The review

1. 01

   Who took part

   The 31 studies included 8,165 people, 23 studies of people who were not pregnant and 8 of pregnant smokers. The average age in the studies ranged from 15 to 61, and 43 in every 100 people were men.

2. 02

   What they did

   Motivational interviewing is a talk that helps people weigh their own reasons to change. The studies compared these talks with brief advice, leaflets, other treatments or nothing. The talks averaged about 6 sessions over about 13 weeks, about 3 hours in total.

3. 03

   What happened

   For people who were not pregnant, the talks helped a little after six months or more. About 13 in 100 stayed off cigarettes, against about 11 in 100 in the other groups. In the first six months there was no clear difference, and pregnant smokers saw no clear difference at either time.

What the review found

1. Helped

   Across 21 studies, talks helped more non-pregnant smokers stay off cigarettes after six months or more.

   • Action: Talk through your mixed feelings about changingtested
   • Rule: With a coach or therapistused

   Pooled analysis of 21 studies · vs people who got other treatments, leaflets or nothing

2. No difference

   Across 16 studies, talks did not help more non-pregnant smokers stay off cigarettes in the first six months.

   • Action: Talk through your mixed feelings about changingtested
   • Rule: With a coach or therapistused

   Pooled analysis of 16 studies · vs people who got other treatments, leaflets or nothing

3. No difference

   Across seven studies of pregnant smokers, talks made no clear difference to quitting in the short term.

   • Action: Talk through your mixed feelings about changingtested
   • Rule: With a coach or therapistused

   Pooled analysis of 7 studies · vs people who got other treatments, leaflets or nothing

4. No difference

   Across two studies of pregnant smokers, talks made no clear difference to quitting later on.

   • Action: Talk through your mixed feelings about changingtested
   • Rule: With a coach or therapistused

   Pooled analysis of 2 studies · vs people who got other treatments, leaflets or nothing

Source