While the interventions scored well on four of the methodological
criteria, improvement is needed regarding sample size and representativeness. To truly understand whether NRT is effective, interventions
need to have adequate sample sizes that account for attrition.
Adolescent-centered retention methods to reduce attrition will help
improve this. Qualitative analyses might be better suited at this stage
to determine what is acceptable to adolescents; patches might be
more welcoming with other patch products on the market utilized by
this population such as birth control; gum might be limited as students
are typically restricted from chewing gum within the school setting.
Considering these factors andfinding a more acceptable method may
allow youth to attain the benefits of NRT in a form they will actually
use. While effectiveness evidence thus far is lacking, methodological
improvements are warranted for future trials