National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (NICE) & Allen Carr’s Easyway
NICE have reviewed Allen Carr’s Easyway and concluded that it is a non-pharmacological option [drug free option] that could be considered for adults who want to stop smoking.
Allen Carr’s Easyway reviewed by NICE
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is part of the UK NHS and is an executive non-departmental public body of the Department of Health. It provides guidance for the NHS and patients and their carers that aims to inform decisions about treatment and healthcare.
NICE today reviewed the randomised controlled trials undertaken comparing Allen Carr’s Easyway to Quit.it (the Irish Quit Smoking Service) and also one comparing Allen Carr’s Easyway to the gold standard English Quit Smoking Service. NICE concluded:
The evidence identified from 2 randomised controlled trials showed that ACE [Allen Carr’s Easyway] has significantly higher quit rates compared with Quit.ie [Irish Quit Smoking Service] and is not inferior to SSS [Quit Smoking Services] provided in the UK for achieving continuous abstinence.
No serious adverse events were associated with ACE in the 2 trials assessed.
The studies report results at different time points (including 6 months and 12 months of follow up) and use validated tools for evaluating relevant outcomes. The studies have some limitations, including risk of selection, performance, and detection bias. Also, the resource use and cost implications were not assessed in the studies evaluated.
The current guideline recommends that commissioners and provides of SSS should ensure that evidence-based interventions such as behavioural support (individual and group), bupropion, NRT, varenicline and very brief advice are available for adults who smoke.
Evidence identified in this surveillance review suggests that ACE [Allen Carr’s Easyway] is a non-pharmacological option [drug free option] that could be considered for adults who want to stop smoking.”