Simon 1997.

Methods	Study design: Randomized controlled trial Setting: Veterans Administration hospital, USA Recruitment: smokers undergoing non‐cardiac surgery
Participants	299 smokers (smoked within 2 wks of admission) (excl 25 deaths) 98% men, av. age 54, av. cpd 20
Interventions	Therapist: public health educator 1. Multicomponent: single counselling session (30 ‐ 60 mins) prior to discharge (based on social learning theory and stages of change). Video, prescription for nicotine gum if no contraindications. 5 follow‐up counselling calls over 3 m 2. Brief counselling (10 mins) and S‐H materials
Outcomes	Abstinence at 12 m Validation: serum or saliva cotinine < 15 ng/ml. 6 self‐reports confirmed only by "significant other".
Notes	65% of Group 1 and 17% of Group 2 reported using NRT, but use of NRT was not significantly associated with quitting in either group
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	"Random list of assignments"
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Low risk	"Sealed opaque envelopes opened on formal enrollment"
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Biochemical validation of abstinence
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	25 (8%) lost to follow‐up included in ITT analysis, 25 (8%) died, excluded from denominator