Crocamo C, Carretta D, Ferri M, Dias S, Bartoli F, Carrá G. (2017). Drugs Education, Prevention and Policy. doi: 10.1080/09687637.2017.1285867
Researchers conducted a systematic review to identify randomized or quasi-randomized clinical trials evaluating internet- or text messaging-based interventions for smoking cessation. Nine studies were included in a meta-analysis investigating the effects of these interventions of seven-day point prevalence abstinence 3- to 7- months post intervention. Results indicated that internet- and text message-based interventions improve probability that participants report 7-day point prevalence abstinence compared to control groups, though this effect was small. Effects of interventions were related to length of the follow-up period. Participants were more likely to report abstinence over the past 7 days when the period between the end of the intervention and the follow-up assessment was shorter. Researchers described the quality of the evidence in these studies based on the Grades of Recommendation and Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach based on effect sizes and risks of biases. Based on the small sample sizes, differences in methodology between studies (e.g. whether participants could receive additional treatment), and differences in attrition rates between intervention and control groups, researchers considered the evidence for internet- and text messaging-based interventions to be “low” quality based on the GRADE approach.