QUITTING SMOKING - ESTIMATION BY METAANALYSIS OF THE RATE OF UNAIDED SMOKING CESSATION

The rates (after 12 months' follow-up) of unassisted smoking cessation reported in the literature have varied from 13.8 per cent to 8.5 per cent. A meta-analysis was conducted of the abstinence rates observed i n 14 samples of smokers who presented at primary health settings and r eceived either no intervention aimed at smoking or usual care (which i nvolved no deliberate intervention for smoking cessation). The estimat ed rate of stopping smoking without intervention, over an average 10-m onth period, was 7.33 per cent. This rate is consistent with others re ported in the literature when motivation to quit is taken into account . The estimate provides a baseline to judge the effects of smoking-ces sation interventions.