Implications for future research
In this network meta-analysis, we compared different drugs and assessed
the level of evidence for different interventions or comparisons. In
general, we have made meaningful discoveries. At the same time, in the
process of conducting this research, we are still able to provide some
implications for future research. First, for drinking smokers, they are
a special group of people. Currently, there are a limited number of
clinical trials of smoking cessation in such populations, and for some
RCTs involving very small sample sizes. Therefore, we look forward to
future studies that will focus on such people while also expanding the
sample in the trial design to improve the validity of the research
evidence. Moreover, following scientific guidance in methodology, the
details of the trial design process should be clearly reported. High
quality meta-analysis (MA) is increasingly regarded as one of the key
tools to obtain evidence, so it is necessary to improve the quality of
randomized controlled trials. 38At the same time,
researchers should investigate the potential impact of population
variables on outcomes. Because participants’ age, degree of tobacco
dependence, drug dosage, duration of intervention, and degree of
alcoholism may all be important variables that affect smoking outcomes.
Second, the enrichment of intervention methods is an important step to
provide the best evidence for clinical decision-making. However, judging
from the research published so far, smoking cessation interventions for
drinking smokers are mainly some drugs, other non-pharmacological
interventions are rarely seen. Moreover, in these drug trials, it is
basically a comparison between one specific drug and placebo. Therefore,
future research can explore more intervention models, such as
psychotherapy, acupuncture, or non-invasive brain stimulation, etc.,
which can also be applied to this group of people. At the same time, for
pharmacological intervention, more drugs can be considered in one trial
to achieve direct comparison between different drugs. Meanwhile we
should also actively explore the effect of the combination of these
drugs on the outcome of smoking cessation. Finally, the safety and
applicability of these drugs should also be fully considered, and timely
preventive measures should be taken for inapplicable populations or
serious adverse events. Moreover, there should be a detailed record of
the usage, dosage, and duration of these drugs.