Effect of enhancing partner support to improve smoking cessation: a meta-analysis

Park, Eal Whan; Schultz, Jennifer; Tudiver, Fred; Becker, Lorne; Campbell, Thomas

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Currently there are over 1 billion smokers worldwide. While many cessation programs are available to assist smokers in quitting, research suggests that partner involvement may encourage long-term abstinence. The purpose of this review was to determine if an intervention to enhance partner support helps smoking cessation when added as an adjunct to a smoking cessation program.
METHODS
The search was performed in Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group specialized register and 10 other databases. The search terms used were smoking, smoking cessation, and support. The search was also limited to English language. Randomized controlled trials that included a partner support intervention and reported follow-up of 6 months or greater were selected. Abstinence was the primary outcome measure and was analyzed at 2 post-treatment intervals: 6-9 months and >12 months. A fixed-effects model was used to assess the summary effect of the studies.
RESULTS
A total of 31 articles were identified for this review. Only 9 studies met the inclusion criteria. The definition of partner varied among the studies. There was limited biochemical validation of abstinence rates. The odds ratio for self report abstinence at 6-9 months was 1.08 (CI 95%, .81, -1.44) and at 12 months post-treatment was 1.0 (CI 95%, 0.75, 1.34). There were no numerical data values for biochemical validation (saliva cotinine/thiocyanate) and carbon monoxide levels at 6-9 months and/or >12 months follow-up.
CONCLUSION
We concluded that interventions designed to enhance partner support for smokers in cessation programs did not increase quit rates. Limited data from several of the RCTs suggest that these interventions did not increase partner support either. No conclusions can be made about the impact of partner support on smoking cessation. More systematic intervention to affect partnership significantly should be delivered if partner support were part of an existing cessation program.