Characteristics of included trials
| First author [ref.] | Population | Interventions | Outcomes | Smoking-cessation rates |
| Pederson 26 | 64 patients with exacerbations recruited in chest ward with COPD according to ACCP/ATS criteria:68.9% male; mean age 53.4 yrs, mean FEV1 not stated | Group 1: individual high intensity SCC during hospital stay (sessions every other day), follow-up sessions (if requested) and self-help materialGroup 2: simple smoking cessation advice (usual care) | Prolonged abstinence rates(6 months, validated by COHb, but only in 20 patients) | Group 1: 27.0%Group 2: 16.2% |
| Anthonisen 22 | 5887 patients from general population recruited with advertisements, at work or public sites with spirometrically confirmed COPD:62.9% male; mean age 48.5 yrs, mean FEV1 78.3% pred | Group 1: SCC with NRT and ipratropium bromide (t.i.d.) or placeboOne individual SCC and 12 2-h group sessions over 10 weeksGroup 2: usual care (no SCC) | Prolonged abstinence rates(12 and 60 months, validated by expired CO and salivary cotinine levels)Mortality (14.5 yrs) | 12 months:Group 1: 34.5%Group 2: 9.0%60 months:Group 1: 21.3%Group 2: 5.2% |
| Crowley 24 | 49 patients recruited in general hospital or outpatient chest clinic with spirometrically confirmed COPD:75.7% male; mean age 61.4 yrs, mean FEV1 49.5% pred | Group 1: reinforcement with lottery tickets if patients met criterion for abstinence (breath CO2)Group 2: reinforcement with lottery tickets equal to pair-mates in group 1 irrespective of abstinenceGroup 3: reinforcement with lottery tickets if cigarette self-reported “none since last visit”.Groups 1–3: individual SCC (30 min) at baseline (1–2 home visits) and self-help-material | Smoking point prevalence at 6 months (validated by expired CO) | 13.9% (not reported per group, but no significant differences) |
| Brandt 23 | 56 patients with clinical diagnosis of COPD admitted to hospital:52.2% male; mean age 66.0 yrs, mean FEV1 not stated | Group 1: COPD labelled as “smoker's lung” when medical staff talked to patients about their illnessGroup 2: COPD labelled as “chronic bronchitis” when medical staff talked to patients about their illnessGroups 1 and 2: standardised instructions how to stop smoking and provision of self-help-material | Smoking point prevalence at 12 months (validated by expired CO)Mortality | Group 1: 32.0%Group 2: 16.1% |
| Tashkin 27 | 404 patients recruited with radio and print advertisements with spirometrically confirmed COPD:55% male; mean age 53.9 yrs, mean FEV1 71.3% pred | Group 1: bupropion 150 mg q.d. for days 1–3, 150 mg b.i.d. for days 4–48Group 2: placeboGroups 1 and 2: individual SCC at weeks 1–7, 10 and 12, telephone counselling 3 days after target quit date and self-help-material | Prolonged abstinence rates(6 months, validated by expired CO)Smoking point prevalence at 6 months | Group 1: 15.7%Group 2: 9.0% |
| Wagena 29 | 255 patients from general practice with spirometrically confirmed COPD:49.9% male; mean age 43.7 yrs, mean FEV1 85.9% pred | Group 1: bupropion 150 mg q.d. for days 1–6, 150 mg b.i.d. for days 7–84Group 2: nortriptyline 25 mg q.d. for days 1–3, 50 mg q.d. for days 3–7, 75 mg q.d. for days 8–84Group 3: placeboGroups 1–3: individual SCC at baseline and 1 and 3 weeks after target quit date. Supportive telephone calls at target quit date, and 2, 4, 6, 8 and 11 weeks after target quit date | Prolonged abstinence rates (6 months, validated by expired CO) | Group 1: 30.2%Group 2: 28.8%Group 3: 19.1% |
| Hilberink 25 | 392 patients from primary care with clinically diagnosed COPD:50.9% male; mean age 59.0 yrs, mean FEV1 not stated | Group 1: intensified “minimal intervention” with patients divided into three categories: preparers, contemplators, pre-contemplators.Smokers unmotivated to quit received only information about the advantages of quitting. Smokers motivated to quit received self-efficacy enhancing visits and calls.Additional 4 h of group training were offered. NRT offered.Group 2: usual care (no specific SCC) | Prolonged abstinence rates(6 months, validated by expired CO) | Group 1: 16.0%Group 2: 8.8% |
| Tonnesen 28 | 370 COPD patients from outpatient chest clinics with spirometrically confirmed COPD:47.9% male; mean age 61.0 yrs, mean FEV1 55.7% pred | Group 1: NRT for 12 weeks with possible continued use for up to 12 months and low intensity SCCGroup 2: NRT for 12 weeks with possible continued use for up to 12 months and high intensity SCCGroup 3: Placebo and low intensity SCCGroup 4: Placebo and high intensity SCCLow intensity SCC: four individual sessions (at study entry, after 2 weeks, after 6 and 12 months), six telephone calls (after 1, 4, 6, 9 and 12 weeks and after 9 months) and self-help materialHigh intensity SCC: seven visits (at study entry, after 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks and after 6 and 12 months), five telephone calls (after 1, 6 and 10 weeks and after 4, 5 and 9 months) and self-help material | Prolonged abstinence rates(12 months, validated by expired CO)Smoking point prevalence at 6 and 12 monthsMortality | Group 1: 13.7%Group 2: 14.4%Group 3: 4.5%Group 4: 6.2% |
COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; ACCP: American College of Chest Physicians; ATS: American Thoracic Society; FEV1: forced expiratory volume in 1 s; SCC: smoking cessation counselling; COHb: carboxyhaemoglobin; % pred: % predicted; NRT: nicotine replacement therapy.