A systematic review on nicotine replacement therapy in low middle-income countries to quit smoking

Abstract

Background: Smoking is a major concern in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with its prevalence increasing day by day, placing a significant burden on public health due to smoking-related diseases. This review examines the effectiveness of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) in various settings within LMICs and identifies the barriers and facilitators that could enhance NRT's effectiveness. A systematic review was conducted to explore these aspects. 

Methods: The author selected three databases—EBSCO Medline, EBSCO CINAHL Plus with Full Text, and Cochrane Library—accessed through Liverpool John Moores University. Additionally, a search was conducted using Google Scholar and grey literature. The PICO framework was employed, and thorough searching was carried out. 

Results: Out of 320 articles retrieved, only 7 were selected that directly addressed the research question. The mean abstinence rate from these 7 articles was 39.8%, with the lowest being 12.7% and the highest 57.1%. This indicates that NRT is an effective intervention in these settings if certain barriers are removed and facilitators are enhanced, depending on the specific challenges of individual countries. 

Conclusion: The study findings reveal that NRT can be an effective intervention and could significantly impact the economies of LMICs if properly implemented. This can be achieved by ensuring affordability, cost-effectiveness, training, and availability in both urban and rural areas. With these corrections, it becomes more evident that NRT can help people quit smoking.