Telephone-based counselling for those seeking to quit smoking is most effective if there is a call-back facility from the counsellor, according to an intervention study. Three or more calls to a helpline increased the chances of quitting compared with a minimal intervention, such as providing standard self-help materials, brief advice or just nicotine patches, the study concluded.
Stead LF et al (2013). “Telephone counselling for smoking cessation”. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews; issue 8, CD002850.
