Efficacy of digital therapeutics in smoking cessation: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Intervention based on “digital therapeutics” (DTs) to aid smoking cessation (SC) has developed in recent years. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to explore the efficacy of DTs in SC. Databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Xplore, ClinicalTrials, Science Direct, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database, Wanfang, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) from inception to June 27, 2022 were searched to collect randomized controlled trials focusing on use of DTs for SC. Revman 5.3 and Stata16 were used for meta-analysis. After literature screening, data extraction, and quality assessment by two researchers. 33 studies (19,749 participants) were included. Compared with the control group, DTs significantly increased the prevalence of abstinence of smokers [OR ​= ​1.77, 95% CI [1.39,2.26], p ​= ​0], significantly increased the point prevalence abstinence (PPA) [OR ​= ​1.45,95% CI [1.18,1.78], p ​= ​0], and improved participation in SC programs [OR ​= ​1.12,95% CI [1.01,1.24], p ​= ​0.038]. Subgroup analysis showed that, among different intervention groups, the prevalence of DTs-assisted SC in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) smokers was higher than that in other groups [OR ​= ​5.18,95% CI [1.49,18.05], p ​= ​0.001], the prevalence of WeChat-assisted SC in smokers was higher than that in other groups [OR ​= ​4.37,95% CI [2.21,8.67], p ​= ​0]. This meta-analysis showed that DTs-assisted SC improved the prevalence of abstinence, PPA, and increased the participation of smokers in SC programs. •Digital therapeutics significantly increased the prevalence of abstinence of smokers.•Digital therapeutics to aid smoking cessation was more effective for COPD patients.•Intervention based on WeChat had more significant effect than other digital therapeutics.•Interactive intervention of digital therapeutics could improve the compliance of smokers.