Impact of tobacco control interventions on smoking initiation, cessation, and prevalence: a systematic review

Abstract

This article investigates the effects of tobacco control policies on smoking initiation, cessation and prevalence by examining the papers published in the last 5 years. Twenty-one articles have been selected by two authors and sorted by four types of tobacco control: tobacco prices, anti-smoking campaigns for young people, mass media intervention and public smoking bans. Price/tax increase has deterrent effect on smoking initiation but does not promote smoking cessation; intervention on young people could reduce the smoking initiation if carried out at an early age and if acted on social skills and with peer-led approach, as opposed to restraining measures which hare generally easily circumvented by young people. The mass media campaigns showed positive effect on attempts to quit among smokers if carried forward over time and by involving multiple communication channels (TV, internet, radio). The bans in public have little effect on smoking cessation but could improve the overall well-being of non-smokers. Heterogeneous results have been described by different studies probably because of different research methodologies, cultural aspects and the really effective implementation of the rules for each country. In conclusion, comprehensive tobacco control interventions to reduce smoking prevalence and modify the smoking behavior are recommended.Moreover, the use of e-cigarettes and heat-not-burn (HnB) products, as possible helping tool for smoke cessation, currently remains controversial.

Establishing a Theory-Based Multi-Level Approach for Primary Prevention of Mental Disorders in Young People

“…For example, for preventing cardiovascular disease, and just looking at one determinant (smoking), interventions range from psychological support to quit smoking to tobacco taxes, regulated advertising, and smoking bans in public spaces. Only when they were combined was a large impact realised [ 78 , 79 ]. The MSS is an example of a successful intervention at the individual level, but it is unlikely to have a large impact if it is not combined with a) other interventions at that level to target other determinants and b) interventions at other levels to target distress and other determinants.…”

Association of Smoking Related to Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) with Tobacco Use in Community Health Center Working Area of Sungai Durian, Sintang Regency, West Kalimantan Province

“…However, the metaanalysis research in East Africa has concluded that attitude was significantly affected by smoking behavior, and thus modifying attitude is prominent to decline smoking behavior (Tezera & Endalamaw, 2019). Attitudes and beliefs, as well as community responses about smoking also affected people to considerably quit smoking (Bafunno et al, 2020;Borrelli, Hayes, Dunsiger, & Fava, 2010;Notoatmodjo, 2005). Attitude was significantly correlated with smoking behavior.…”

Social Norms Change and Tobacco Use: A Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Interventions

“…Some of the most effective approaches for reducing tobacco use involve the implementation of specific excise taxes (i.e., based on quantity or weight) or ad valorem excise taxes (i.e., based on a percentage of the value of the product) which increase the retail price of tobacco [7][8][9][10]. While excise taxes have been found to delay onset of smoking, they appear to be less effective at promoting cessation among existing smokers, and particularly among heavy smokers [11][12][13]. Evidence for equity impacts (i.e., whether an intervention has a greater impact on individuals of lower or higher socioeconomic groups) of supply-side interventions is also mixed [14].…”

“…By complement, many approaches have also been used to reduce the demand for tobacco products. These include mass media campaigns, the creation of smoke-free environments, tobacco cessation services, and the adoption of cessation aids [13]. Some effective demand-side approaches include group behavioral therapy, Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and medication, and counselling interventions [16].…”

“…It should be noted however, that many of these approaches are based on controlled clinical efficacy studies rather than real-world population-level effectiveness studies. Existing evidence of non-price policies and interventions on tobacco use is mixed, and there is substantial heterogeneity in implementation, cessation effects, and equity impacts [13,14,17,18]. The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), one of the most widely endorsed treaties in the world, specifies various tobacco control measures for signatories, including price interventions, smoke-free policies, and tobacco advertising bans [19].…”