Background: Smoking is associated with adverse health effects and significant disease burden among men, making it an important men's health issue. Conversely, smoking cessation is associated with significant reductions in smoking-attributable risk. However, few studies have examined men-specific smoking cessation programs. The aim of our study was to conduct a comprehensive review of the literature to identify men-specific smoking cessation programs to make recommendations about future efforts to develop, implement and evaluate men-centered smoking cessation interventions.

Methods: A comprehensive search of the COCHRANE Library, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO and SIGLE databases was performed. Out of 873 studies that we retrieved from the data base search, 11 publications met our inclusion criteria.

Results: Of the 11 studies in our review, 7 employed a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design, 3 employed a cohort design, and 1 article employed a two-group pretest–posttest design. Only two studies had treatments that were tailored specifically for men. Overall, the majority of RCTs (6/7) provided significant treatment effects in favor of the intervention group.

Conclusions: The few descriptive studies that have examined smoking cessation outcomes in men-only programs support calls for men-centered interventions. However, the factors underpinning men's smoking and cessation require further research attention. Future studies are needed that examine, incorporate, and evaluate sex-and gender-specific factors related to smoking cessation outcomes among men. Such studies will improve men's health by enhancing our understanding of their smoking behaviors. Moreover, the findings derived from such studies will be useful in guiding the development of tailored approaches to men's smoking cessation.