Multicomponent Workplace Tobacco Cessation Interventions: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Introduction: Tobacco is the leading modifiable risk factor for cancer and other chronic diseases. The workplace provides an opportunity to advance tobacco cessation efforts. Combining tobacco cessation with complementary components addressing mental health, physical activity, and healthy eating has demonstrated effectiveness in non-workplace settings. This scoping review examines the literature on multicomponent workplace tobacco cessation interventions to identify core components and implementation facilitators and barriers to support uptake in the workplace setting.

Methods: A scoping review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines for Scoping Reviews and Arksey and O'Malley's five-step process. Peer-reviewed literature published in the past 20 years was searched across 9 databases. A search for relevant gray literature (i.e., conference papers/proceedings) was also completed. Articles were screened by two independent researchers for inclusion. Included studies evaluated workplace interventions recruiting individuals to participate in a tobacco cessation program alongside a complementary component (i.e., physical activity, mental health, healthy eating).

Results: Most of the 12 included studies paired tobacco cessation with mental health or stress reduction interventions. Most complementary components targeted the individual versus organizational or policy levels. The synthesized facilitators indicated that multicomponent interventions should be incentivized and tailored to adequately meet the needs of different workplaces and employees.

Discussion: This scoping review synthesizes studies integrating multiple complementary program components into workplace tobacco cessation efforts. Future interventions should implement tobacco cessation interventions at multiple levels, combining complementary components to maximize effectiveness and overcome barriers (e.g., weight gain and stress) to successful outcomes.

Keywords: healthy eating; mental health; physical activity; tobacco cessation; workplace health.