Study compares smoking cessation methods

A study published on October 27, 2026, in the journal NEJM Evidence examined three methods for helping smokers quit, conducted by researchers from Queen Mary University of London.

Participants and groups

The study involved 1,170 adult smokers from hospitals and clinics in the United Kingdom, who were randomly assigned to one of three groups. Each group received a different type of support to help them quit smoking.

Vaping with and without support

One group received automated messages from the public NHS SmokeFree program for 28 days. A second group was given a vaping kit without any additional support. A third group received the vaping kit plus five weeks of weekly telephone calls.

Effectiveness at six months

At six months, 11.3% of those who used the vaping kit without follow-up had quit, compared to 6.4% in the message group. The vaping kit alone increased the chance of quitting by 76%, and the addition of weekly calls raised the quit rate to 21.1%.

Results after one year

After one year, nearly 17% of those who used the vaping kit with support had quit. The study highlights that while vaping alone is more effective than automated messages, adding weekly phone calls significantly improves long-term success rates.