Non-pharmacological interventions for tobacco cessation delivered in dental settings in South Asia: a scoping review

Tobacco use is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, with South Asia carrying a significant burden. Dentists are well placed to deliver cessation intervention because of the clear link between tobacco use and oral diseases. However, evidence on the reported outcomes and feasibility of such interventions in South Asian contexts has not been systematically synthesized. This review aimed to map and describe the characteristics, delivery approaches, and reported outcomes of tobacco cessation interventions implemented in dental or related healthcare settings within South Asian populations. We conducted the scoping review following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) framework and reported according to PRISMA-ScR. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, Medline (via Ovid), Scopus, and CINAHL was conducted from database inception until March 2025. Eligible studies included quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods designs reporting non-pharmacological cessation interventions delivered by dentists. Data were synthesised narratively with subsequent thematic synthesis examining effectiveness, cultural adaptations, resource limitations, and therapeutic adaptations within South Asian contexts. Five studies from India and Pakistan met the inclusion criteria of this review. Interventions included brief health education (BHE), cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing (MI), and theory-based counselling approaches. Reported cessation-related outcomes varied across studies, with quit or abstinence rates ranging from 4% to 29.1% in comparative studies and additional studies reporting changes in nicotine dependence or behaviour-change scores. Reported implementation challenges included time constraints, loss to follow-up, and limited reporting of provider training, while reported facilitators included structured counselling approaches, patient engagement, and use of existing clinical infrastructure. Evidence suggested that the non-pharmacological interventions are feasible in dental settings and can support tobacco cessation in South Asia, though effectiveness varies. Future research should prioritize large-scale randomized trials, context-specific adaptation, and integration into national oral health policies. Review registration Protocol registered on the Open Science Framework. (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/T86FP).