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NICE Underpinning Review
The aim of this review was to synthesise evidence evaluating the effectiveness of mass media interventions on helping people to quit smoking/tobacco use and/or to prevent relapse. These interventions were considered for both the effectiveness of the channel of communication and also for the effectiveness of message content, and this is reported under six research questions. Particular emphasis was placed on evaluating relevance to the UK setting and effectiveness within population groups such as young people, pregnant smokers and hard to reach communities.
Overall, there appears to be evidence that mass media interventions can have a positive effect on quit rates. However the size of effect is difficult to determine given the lack of a control group in many of the studies. In addition, many of the studies used multiple types of media combined with other interventions, which makes it difficult to evaluate which particular component is effective or ineffective. There is evidence that mass media can increase the number of calls to quitlines, but whether this translates into an increase in cessation rates is less clear.
There is also some good quality evidence that the use of technology such as mobile phones can be effective, and offers the potential to deliver culturally specific materials to targeted groups. There is also evidence that internet can be an effective way of delivering interventions, and may be a particularly appealing channel of communication for young people.
Developing culturally appropriate advertising materials, which target particular ethnicities of communities, has been shown to be effective by a number of studies.
Having some control over when advertising might be aired could also have an important role to play in addressing the needs of consumers.