Tobacco cessation is a challenge during COVID-19 pandemic: Is it a good time to quit?: A systematic review

Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19 is a global health crisis experienced ever, caused by novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS CoV -2); unfortunately, this pandemic is still progressing, affecting over millions of people worldwide. Evidences have revealed that psychological stress experienced during pandemic is making tobacco users more addictive, therefore to prevent especially youth from harmful effects of tobacco, tobacco cessation is the need of the hour. Aim: The aim of this systematic review was to compile evidence-based studies pertaining to tobacco use during COVID-19 pandemic and highlighting the challenges incurred towards successful quit attempts by the tobacco user. Materials and Method: Computerized literature search was performed from December 2019 till June 2020 to select eligible articles from the following databases: PUBMED [MEDLINE], SCOPUS, SCIENCE DIRECT, and COCHRANE DATABASE using specific keywords. The search was limited to articles published as full text in English, which were screened by two reviewers for eligibility. Results: Six studies satisfied our inclusion criteria. Two studies found that tobacco users have achieved successful quitting during lockdown period, and contrary to this three studies suggested that users have become more addictive to smoking due to psychological stress experienced during pandemic. One study suggested current smokers to be higher risk of acquisition of severe disease. Conclusion: Oral physicians should extend extra support to tobacco users to quit by brief or moderate interventions by means of telephonic consultation or video conferencing during this pandemic. In future more studies should be conducted to understand the effect of pandemic on tobacco use pattern.

Keywords

• challenge
• covid-19
• intervention
• nicotine
• sars-cov-2
• tobacco