Attend a cessation clinic or, in China, call 12320 to ask about local services
Medicine and regular follow-up provide different kinds of help, and work best together. People receiving both were almost twice as likely to quit as those given brief advice alone. Phone support counts: proactive follow-up calls can improve success by another 20%–30%.
What it takes
Chinese clinic registration costs a few to a few dozen renminbi. Behavioral support usually involves 4–8 visits of 30–60 minutes, commonly under 5 hours in total. Hotline help is free.
What you may gain
Across 52 trials involving 19,488 people, medication plus behavioral support increased cessation versus usual care or brief advice by a factor of 1.83 (RR 1.83, 95% CI 1.68–1.98; high-quality evidence). In 43 trials recruiting through health facilities, RR was 1.97 (1.79–2.18). Among people who called a quitline, multiple proactive callbacks improved success by 38% versus written materials or one conversation (RR 1.38, 95% CI 1.19–1.61; 14 trials, 32,484 people). Among people offered calls without first contacting a quitline, success rose 25% (RR 1.25, 95% CI 1.15–1.35; 65 trials, 41,233 people). Both telephone findings were moderate-certainty evidence.
Context & considerations
In WeChat, search for “中国戒烟平台” (China Smoking Cessation Platform) to find local clinics and quitlines, or call 12320 about local services in China. Most trials were conducted abroad, and service intensity varies substantially between Chinese clinics, so use the figures as directional evidence. See cessation medicines.
Research & references
Stead LF, Koilpillai P, Fanshawe TR, Lancaster T (2016). Combined pharmacotherapy and behavioural interventions for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 3, CD008286. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD008286.pub3 ; Matkin W, Ordóñez-Mena JM, Hartmann-Boyce J (2019). Telephone counselling for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 5, CD002850. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD002850.pub4 ; China CDC (2021). Launch of the China Smoking Cessation Platform WeChat mini program. Jointly developed by China CDC and WHO's China office under the Healthy China Action tobacco-control working group, it lists quitlines, clinic details and online support. The website footer gives the health consultation number 12320. https://www.chinacdc.cn/jkyj/yckz/gzdt/202203/t20220310_296389.html