Offering incentives significantly improves smoking cessation rates across diverse populations, according to a comprehensive review published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

The study, led by Dr. Caitlin Notley of Norwich Medical School at the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom, assessed the long-term impact of financial incentives and contingency management programs on smoking cessation. The analysis included 48 studies involving 21,924 participants, ranging from general populations to pregnant individuals. Incentives provided in these programs varied from cash payments to vouchers redeemable for goods and groceries.

The findings revealed that incentives substantially increase the likelihood of quitting smoking. For the general population, the pooled risk ratio (RR) for quitting at six months or longer was 1.52, based on high-certainty evidence. Notably, the positive effects persisted even after the incentives ceased. When excluding studies offering incentives during the follow-up period, the RR remained 1.46, indicating sustained benefits.

Among pregnant participants, incentives were even more effective. Pooled data from 14 studies involving 4,314 pregnant individuals showed an RR of 2.13 for smoking cessation at up to 48 weeks postpartum. This finding underscores the potential of incentives to support vulnerable groups during critical periods.

“It’s not that these people could have quit anyway and then were paid and decided to do so,” co-author Dr. Jamie Hartmann-Boyce from the University of Massachusetts Amherst explained. “A lot of people in these studies have tried to quit many times. They really want to quit but weren’t able to do so, and this helped them.”

The total value of incentives in the trials ranged widely, from as little as $45 to as much as $1,185. Interestingly, the study found no significant difference in effectiveness between low- and high-value incentives or between programs encouraging redeemable self-deposits and those providing direct payments.

These results emphasize the potential of financial incentives as a powerful tool in public health efforts to combat smoking addiction. By addressing the challenges faced by individuals who struggle to quit, such programs can play a crucial role in reducing smoking prevalence and improving overall health outcomes.

The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers and healthcare providers aiming to design effective smoking cessation interventions. Future research may further explore the optimal structure and delivery of incentive-based programs to maximize their impact.