Kate Cahill

TL;DR: In this article, the effectiveness of different forms of nicotine replacement therapy (chewing gum, transdermal patches, nasal spray, inhalers and tablets) in achieving abstinence from cigarettes, or a sustained reduction in amount smoked; to determine whether the effect is influenced by the clinical setting in which the smoker is recruited and treated, the dosage and form of the NRT used, or the intensity of additional advice and support offered to the smoker.

TL;DR: Bupropion and nortriptyline appear to be equally effective and of similar efficacy to NRT, and high quality evidence that bupropion significantly increased long-term cessation when used as the sole pharmacotherapy is found.

TL;DR: The outcome for benefit is continuous or prolonged abstinence at least six months from the start of treatment, and the outcome for harms is the incidence of serious adverse events associated with each of the treatments.

TL;DR: The main outcome measured was abstinence from smoking at longest follow-up, and the most rigorous definition of abstinence was abstinence, and preferred biochemically validated rates where they were reported.

TL;DR: There was strong evidence that interventions directed towards individual smokers increase the likelihood of quitting smoking and there was a lack of evidence that comprehensive programmes reduced the prevalence of smoking.