A bibliometric analysis of graduate theses conducted in smoking cessation clinics in Türkiye

Background: Smoking cessation clinics play a key role in tobacco control efforts, and graduate theses conducted in these settings reflect academic priorities and research trends. This study aimed to examine the characteristics and trends of graduate theses conducted in smoking cessation clinics in Türkiye. Methods: A bibliometric analysis was conducted on graduate theses completed between 1999 and 2024. Data were obtained from the National Thesis Center (YÖKTEZ) database using a two-stage search strategy with the keywords “smoking” and “cessation” and “smoking” and “cessation intervention.” A total of 757 theses were identified and screened according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. After excluding studies not conducted in smoking cessation outpatient clinics, removing duplicate records, and applying eligibility criteria, 145 theses were included in the final analysis. The study selection process was conducted systematically and presented using a flow diagram. Results: The majority of the theses were medical specialty dissertations (86.8%), predominantly conducted within the Department of Family Medicine (71.7%). The University of Health Sciences accounted for the largest proportion of theses (29%), and nearly half of the studies were published in the last five years. Most studies employed descriptive and cross-sectional designs, while experimental and qualitative approaches were relatively limited. The most frequently investigated topic was factors associated with smoking cessation success. Geographically, theses were concentrated in major metropolitan areas, with no recorded studies from 59 provinces. Conclusions: Although academic output related to smoking cessation clinics in Türkiye has increased in recent years, research remains limited in terms of methodological diversity and regional representation. Future research should prioritize experimental, qualitative, and multidisciplinary approaches to strengthen evidence-based contributions to tobacco control efforts.