Table 1.

Characteristics of included studies.

Study, country, design		Participants (N)		Participants details		Intervention		Control		Learning outcomes
Digital education versus usual learning
	Chaikoolvatana 2009, Thailand (RCTa) [30]		85		Pharmacy students		Interactive computer program for smoking cessation counseling		Classroom lectures		Knowledge and attitude toward intervention
	Gordon 2013, United States of America (RCT) [31]		215		Respiratory therapists, nurses, and nurse practitioners		Web-based smoking cessation education program		Usual traditional learning		Behavior, attitude, and self-rated efficacy in providing smoking cessation therapy
	Young 2002, Australia (RCT) [26]		53		Family physicians		Web-based distance learning module for delivering smoking cessation advice		Preventive care guidelines sent via postal mail		Knowledge, skill, readiness to change, and self-rated competence
	Galal 2015, United States of America (RCT) [32]		214		Pharmacy students		Use of student response systems (SRS) or “clickers” for instruction in a smoking cessation module		Instruction without student response systems		Learner’s attitude toward intervention
Blended education versus usual learning
	Butler 2013, United Kingdom (cRCTb) [27]		53		General practitioners, and nurses		Web-based learning program with face-to-face trainings to deliver behavior change counseling in smoking cessation		Usual traditional learning		Patient reported changes in smoking behavior after health professionals training
	Hymowitz 2007, United States of America (cRCT) [29]		16		Pediatric residents		Hybrid CD-ROM/website training program and seminars series to deliver smoking cessation therapy		Usual learning with reading material on smoking cessation		Skill, practice, and behavior change
	Ockene 2015, United States of America (cRCT) [33]		1503		Medical students		Web-based multi-modal education and face-to-face trainings for smoking cessation counseling		Usual learning with traditional tobacco education in the medical curricula		Smoking cessation counseling skill and self-rated competence
Digital education versus digital education
	Bonevski 1999, Australia (RCT) [34]		19		General practitioners		Computer-based program with performance specific feedback system for screening smoking behavior		Computer program without feedback system for smoking cessation behavior		Screening smoking behavior (smoking status classification)
	Stoner 2014, United States of America (RCT) [35]		92		Physicians, nurse practitioner, and physician assistants		Web-based multimedia training program for screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment		Website with hyperlinks to downloadable reading materials		Knowledge, satisfaction, self-efficacy, and change in clinical practice
Blended education versus digital education
	Brunette 2015, United States of America (RCT) [36]		46		Psychiatrists, advanced nurse practitioners		Videoconference educational outreach and use of printed slides, handouts, and questionnaires for cessation pharmacotherapy		Interactive in-person lecture with slides and handouts		Knowledge and attitude toward intervention
	Stolz 2012, Switzerland (RCT) [37]		129		Medical students		Self-directed Web-based module		Lectures with video demonstration on smoking cessation		Knowledge, skill, satisfaction, and self-rated smoking cessation counseling skill

^aRCT: randomized controlled trial.

^bcRCT: cluster randomized controlled trial.