Quitting smoking can significantly improve health, and various methods, including medications, behavioral support, and digital tools, can increase the chances of success.

Smoking remains a leading cause of preventable illness and death worldwide. Deciding to quit is a crucial step towards better health, and a range of effective strategies and support systems are available to help individuals achieve long-term cessation [6]. Understanding these methods can empower smokers to choose the most suitable path for their journey to a smoke-free life.

Emerging Pharmacological Approaches

New research is exploring innovative pharmacological options to aid smoking cessation. One area of interest is glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, which are already known for their role in weight management and metabolic health [1]. Emerging evidence suggests that these agents may also influence reward pathways in the brain, potentially offering benefits for nicotine addiction. Furthermore, GLP-1 agonists could help mitigate weight gain that sometimes occurs after quitting smoking [1]. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, with literature searched up to November 2025, is evaluating the efficacy of GLP-1 receptor agonists for smoking cessation and their effects on post-cessation weight and body mass index (BMI) [1].

Behavioral Support and Digital Tools

Behavioral interventions play a critical role in helping individuals quit smoking. These can range from brief advice from a healthcare professional to more structured programs [6]. Digital health tools are also emerging as a promising avenue for support.

Chatbot Interventions: For instance, a pragmatic randomized trial (TELEGRAM-MI) is testing a Telegram-based chatbot designed to support smoking cessation after a myocardial infarction (heart attack). This intervention provides motivational messages, tools for managing cravings, an SOS function for immediate help, weekly check-ins, and relapse prevention sequences over six months [5]. Such low-cost digital tools can offer continuous behavioral support, especially where traditional follow-up is limited [5].
Educational Videos: Incorporating educational videos can be highly effective in enhancing self-efficacy (a person's belief in their ability to succeed) and reducing depressive symptoms, which are important factors in successful behavior change [3]. While studied in the context of coronary artery disease, the principles of video-based education can be applied to support smoking cessation efforts [3].

Combined Lifestyle Interventions

Quitting smoking is often most effective when integrated into a broader healthy lifestyle approach. Combined lifestyle interventions (CLIs) frequently target multiple factors such as diet, physical activity, and smoking cessation [2]. For individuals managing chronic conditions like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), CLIs that include smoking cessation, diet, and physical activity have shown improvements in quality of life, respiratory symptoms, body weight/BMI, and exercise capacity [2]. This highlights how addressing smoking alongside other lifestyle changes can lead to more comprehensive health benefits.

The Role of Healthcare Professionals

Healthcare professionals are vital allies in the journey to quit smoking. Simple advice from a physician to quit, combined with brief behavioral interventions, can more than double a smoker's chances of success [6]. Nurses, in particular, play a significant role in engaging patients in prevention programs and helping them modify risk factors [4]. Their involvement can be crucial in providing ongoing support and guidance for smoking cessation.

A Unique Opportunity: Quitting Before Surgery

Elective surgery presents an excellent and often overlooked opportunity for smokers to quit permanently [6]. Quitting smoking before surgery can lead to immediate improvements in perioperative outcomes, such as better cardiac and respiratory function, and enhanced wound healing [6]. Beyond the immediate surgical benefits, this period can serve as a powerful motivator for long-term cessation, offering profound benefits to overall health [6]. Healthcare providers, including anesthesiologists, can integrate strategies to help patients quit smoking during this critical window [6].

In summary, a multi-faceted approach combining pharmacological support, behavioral interventions, digital tools, and the guidance of healthcare professionals offers the most robust path to successfully quitting smoking. Each method contributes to increasing the likelihood of long-term success and improved health outcomes.

Sources

[1] GLP-1 agonists for smoking cessation and post-cessation weight management: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42529623/
[2] Combined Lifestyle Interventions in the Prevention and Management of Asthma and COPD: A Systematic Review. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38794757/
[3] The impact of incorporating patient educational videos for secondary prevention in adults with coronary artery disease; A systematic review of randomized and quasi-experimental, controlled trials. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42030591/
[4] Effectiveness of interventions involving nurses in secondary stroke prevention: A systematic review and meta-analysis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29856237/
[5] A Telegram-based behavioral intervention for smoking cessation after myocardial infarction: A study protocol of a pragmatic, single-blind, randomized trial. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42427923/
[6] Helping surgical patients quit smoking: why, when, and how. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16037165/

This article summarises published research for a general audience. It is not medical advice — talk to a qualified clinician about your own situation. Need help finding one? Browse doctors.