Comparison 2. Duration of patch therapy.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
2.1 Smoking cessation	7		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
2.1.1 52 weeks versus 24 weeks	1	345	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.78 [0.53, 1.15]
2.1.2 52 weeks versus 8 weeks	1	352	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.94 [0.63, 1.41]
2.1.3 28 weeks versus 12 weeks	1	2861	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.05 [0.88, 1.26]
2.1.4 24 weeks versus 8 weeks	2	921	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.10 [0.84, 1.45]
2.1.5 12 weeks versus 6 weeks	1	140	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.03 [0.62, 1.71]
2.1.6 12 weeks versus 3 weeks	1	98	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.61 [0.26, 1.41]
2.1.7 6 weeks versus 4 weeks	1	1873	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.06 [0.85, 1.33]
2.1.8 6 weeks versus 2 ‐ 3 weeks	2	1957	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.13 [0.91, 1.40]
2.1.9 4 weeks versus 2 weeks	1	1862	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.08 [0.85, 1.37]
2.2 Overall serious adverse events	3		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
2.2.1 52 weeks versus 24 weeks	1	345	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	4.02 [0.87, 18.67]
2.2.2 52 weeks versus 8 weeks	1	352	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.09 [0.64, 6.82]
2.2.3 24 weeks versus 8 weeks	2	921	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.03 [0.30, 3.54]
2.2.4 6 weeks versus 2 ‐ 3 weeks	1	0	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Not estimable
2.3 Treatment withdrawals	2		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.3.1 24 weeks versus 8 weeks	1		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
2.3.2 6 weeks versus 2 ‐ 3 weeks	1		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected