Tobacco cessation interventions in high-income countries with Chinese, Vietnamese and Arab people who smoke: a scoping review of outcomes and cultural considerations.

OBJECTIVES

There are large and growing communities of Chinese, Vietnamese and Arab populations within many high-income countries, including Australia. These populations experience disproportionately higher rates of tobacco smoking. Cessation strategies are required that acknowledge the cultural factors shaping smoking behaviours. This review aimed to synthesise the evidence for smoking cessation interventions among Chinese, Vietnamese and Arab people, including outcomes and cultural considerations.

DESIGN

Scoping review.

DATA SOURCES

We searched five electronic databases for peer-reviewed literature (CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, PubMed and Scopus). Relevant grey literature was sourced from research and health organisations, and community cultural organisations.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

English-language studies of tobacco cessation interventions with Chinese-speaking, Vietnamese-speaking or Arabic-speaking participants conducted in Australia, the USA, Canada, the UK or New Zealand between 2013 and 2025.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

Two reviewers independently screened for eligible studies and, if included, assessed risk of bias using Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools.

RESULTS

We identified 23 studies describing 15 intervention types, with written resources most highly featured. Promising category evidence was found for nine intervention types with Chinese people (written information, education sessions, visual information, counselling, involving others, providing nicotine replacement therapy, intervention branded merchandise, mobile messaging and telephone follow-up), as well as counselling with Arab people, and telephone follow-up with Vietnamese people. A variety of cultural considerations were addressed in the interventions, most commonly language barriers as well as the use of co-design and community participation.

CONCLUSIONS

Smoking cessation interventions with Chinese people were strongly supported, with less evidence for interventions with Vietnamese and Arabic people. Education-focused interventions were particularly effective, addressing low baseline knowledge underpinning smoking. Language barriers to smoking cessation were addressed through primary language supports. Further research is needed on effective smoking cessation intervention types with Arab and Vietnamese people.