Tobacco consumption continues to be a leading cause of avoidable illness and premature death globally. Digital health interventions have shown substantial benefits in improving clinical outcomes and have demonstrated effectiveness in supporting smoking cessation among the general population, mainly due to their adaptability and capacity for individualized support. Despite this, evidence regarding their efficacy in Asian contexts remains limited. Addressing this gap, the present study seeks to evaluate the available evidence regarding the effectiveness of digital tools in supporting smoking cessation among Asian populations. A systematic search of three electronic databases—Web of Science (WOS), Scopus, and PubMed—was conducted to identify studies published from 1 January 2010 to 12 February 2023 that assessed the effectiveness of digital approaches to smoking cessation in Asian countries. 25 eligible studies, encompassing 22,005 participants across nine Asian countries, were included. Among the different digital interventions, the highest abstinence outcome (70%) was reported for a Facebook-based smoking cessation program grounded in cognitive behavioural theory (CBT). This was followed by smartphone applications (60%), WhatsApp (59.9%), and pharmacist counselling combined with the Quit US app (58.4%). Notably, WhatsApp was preferred over Facebook due to its association with lower relapse rates. WeChat interventions achieved 7-day point prevalence abstinence rates of 15.6% and 41.8%. Telephone- and text message–based programs showed abstinence rates ranging from 8% to 44.3% and quit rates between 6.3% and 16.8%. In contrast, media/multimedia messaging and web-based education interventions demonstrated no significant impact on cessation outcomes. The findings indicate that digital health tools may serve as effective and economically viable alternatives to traditional smoking cessation strategies in Asian populations.
