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. 2017 Oct:73:81-93.
doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.05.002. Epub 2017 May 2.

Systematic review of social media interventions for smoking cessation

John A Naslund  1 , Sunny Jung Kim  2 , Kelly A Aschbrenner  3 , Laura J McCulloch  4 , Mary F Brunette  5 , Jesse Dallery  6 , Stephen J Bartels  7 , Lisa A Marsch  5
Affiliations

Systematic review of social media interventions for smoking cessation

John A Naslund et al. Addict Behav. 2017 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Popular social media could extend the reach of smoking cessation efforts. In this systematic review, our objectives were: 1) to determine whether social media interventions for smoking cessation are feasible, acceptable, and potentially effective; 2) to identify approaches for recruiting subjects; and 3) to examine the specific intervention design components and strategies employed to promote user engagement and retention.

Methods: We searched Scopus, Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Central, PsychINFO, CINAHL, and Web of Science through July 2016 and reference lists of relevant articles. Included studies described social media interventions for smoking cessation and must have reported outcomes related to feasibility, acceptability, usability, or smoking-related outcomes.

Results: We identified 7 studies (all were published since 2014) that enrolled 9755 participants (median=136 [range 40 to 9042]). Studies mainly used Facebook (n=4) or Twitter (n=2), and emerged as feasible and acceptable. Five studies reported smoking-related outcomes such as greater abstinence, reduction in relapse, and an increase in quit attempts. Most studies (n=6) recruited participants using online or Facebook advertisements. Tailored content, targeted reminders, and moderated discussions were used to promote participant engagement. Three studies found that active participation through posting comments or liking content may be associated with improved outcomes. Retention ranged from 35% to 84% (median=70%) across the included studies.

Conclusions: Our review highlights the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effectiveness of social media interventions for smoking cessation. Future research should continue to explore approaches for promoting user engagement and retention, and whether sustained engagement translates to clinically meaningful smoking cessation outcomes.

Keywords: Cessation; Smoking; Social media; Social networking; Technology; Tobacco.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest The authors report no conflicting interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram of studies included in the review
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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