Webb AR, Coward L, Soh L, et al. - Researchers assessed the efficacy of free nicotine patches in promoting preoperative smoking cessation. They randomly assigned (3:1) smokers (≥ 10 cigarettes.day−1) awaiting non-urgent surgery to an offer of free nicotine patches or a control group who were not granted free nicotine patches. The suggested regimen was continued for 5 weeks, with an incremental reduction in patch strength after 3 and 4 weeks. They found that the likelihood of engaging in a cessation attempt lasting more than 24 h was more in participants offered nicotine patches. Relapse was noted in 46 (59%) of 78 participants who stopped smoking by the day of surgery and were observed at 6 months. Although offering free nicotine patches aroused interest in quitting vs controls, but the protocol demonstrated limited efficacy.