Acupuncture, hypnotherapy, and aversive smoking are the most frequently studied alternative smoking cessation aids. Although these aids are often used as alternatives to pharmacotherapies for smoking cessation, their efficacy is unclear. The current random effect meta-analysis was conducted on randomized controlled trials to determine the efficacy of alternative smoking cessation aids. The Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Medline, and PsycINFO databases were systematically searched through December 2010 and only trials that reported cessation outcomes as point prevalence or continuous abstinence at six or 12 months were included. Overall, 14 trials were identified, six that investigated acupuncture (N = 823), four that investigated hypnotherapy (N = 273), and four that investigated aversive smoking (N = 99). The estimated mean treatment effects were as follows: acupuncture (OR 3.53; 95% CI 1.03-12.07), hypnotherapy (OR 4.55; 95% CI 0.98-21.01), and aversive smoking (OR 4.26; 95% CI 1.26-14.38). The authors concluded that these results suggest that acupuncture and hypnotherapy may help smokers quit. While aversive smoking may help smokers quit, it is important to note that no recent trials have investigated this intervention. Further, more evidence is needed to determine whether alternative interventions are as efficacious as pharmacotherapies. Am J Med. 2012 Apr 11. PMID: 22502956
