Smoking patterns and use of cessation interventions during pregnancy

BACKGROUND: Pregnant smokers should be counseled to quit smoking and offered effective cessation interventions. To improve understanding of how best to increase smoking-cessation rates during pregnancy, this study analyzed population-based surveillance data to describe women's smoking patterns and the use of cessation services during pregnancy. METHODS: Data were analyzed from the 2004 and 2005 New Jersey Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, a population-based survey of postpartum women (n=4473). Measures of behaviors included the timing of quit relative to the learning of pregnancy, provider assistance, the use of cessation interventions, and barriers to quitting. Analyses were done in 2007 and 2008. RESULTS: An estimated 16.2% (95% CI=15.1, 17.3) of women smoked before pregnancy. Of these, 49.8% quit before entering prenatal care, and 5.2% quit after entering prenatal care. Almost all women reported that their prenatal care provider asked if they smoked, but only 56.7% reported that a provider counseled them to quit smoking. Only 11.5% of women who smoked in late pregnancy used a cessation method, including self-help materials (6.3%); medications (3.9%); face-to-face counseling (1.7%); telephone-based counseling (1.5%); Internet-based counseling (1.3%); and a class or program (1.0%). The most frequently reported barriers to quitting were cravings for a cigarette, stress, and being around people who smoked. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly half of pregnant New Jersey smokers quit before prenatal care, and very few quit later. Few continuing smokers used a smoking-cessation method when trying to quit or cut back. Efforts should be intensified to increase the knowledge, promotion, and referral to effective interventions to help pregnant smokers quit.     

Minimal smoking cessation interventions in prenatal, family planning, and well-child public health clinics

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the prevalence and effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions for women of childbearing age in public health clinics. METHODS: Smokers in prenatal, family planning, and well-child services in 10 public health clinics (n = 1021) were interviewed 5 to 8 weeks after a medical visit to assess their exposure to smoking cessation interventions and smoking cessation outcomes. RESULTS: Depending on clinic service and intervention component (poster, video segment, provider advice, booklet), 16% to 63% of women reported exposure to an intervention component during their visit. Women in prenatal services received more interventions and had better outcomes than those in the other services. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to more interventions increased readiness and motivation to quit and the number of actions taken toward quitting.     

Effectiveness of a brief intervention based on the '5A' model for smoking cessation at the primary care level in Santiago, Chile

Chilean women have the highest smoking rates in Latin America. Prevalence in this population is about 40%. There are no national programs for smoking cessation at the primary care level. This study explores the feasibility and effectiveness of a brief counseling intervention targeted to women smokers of childbearing age who seek primary care in Santiago, Chile. A quasi-experimental design was used to compare the effect of an intervention based on the '5A' model developed by the National Cancer Institute in the United States and the standard care provided in two control clinics. Women smokers seeking care at the three primary care clinics were contacted during a 2 months period and offer to participate in the study. Sampling was stratified according to the age groups to ensure comparability between cohorts. Quotas were calculated for each age group. Participants were asked about their willingness to quit, self-efficacy, smoking behavior, addiction level as well as support received for smoking cessation. After 18 months of intervention all women were re-evaluated. A total of 773 women were recruited for the study; 76% of them completed the trial. Women smokers are characterized by a large percentage of light smokers with a low self-efficacy for quitting and with very low information on where and how to get assistance to quit. At study end, 15.2% of women reported quitting smoking at least for 1 month in the intervention clinic versus 7.8% in one of the control clinics (p < 0.05) and 14.6% in the second control clinic (p = NS). Over 70% of women in the intervention clinic were asked, assessed and received advice for quitting in comparison with <15% in the control clinics (p < 0.01). To conclude, a primary care intervention based on the '5A' model for smoking cessation is feasible and can have a significant effect in reducing smoking prevalence in this population.     

A community health center smoking-cessation intervention for pregnant and postpartum women

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of a provider counseling and office systems intervention in obstetric, pediatric, and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) clinics on smoking and relapse rates in pregnant and postpartum women. METHODS: Five community health centers were randomized to special intervention (SI) or usual care (UC). Subjects (n =601) were current smokers or had quit with pregnancy. Prenatal and postpartum interviews assessed smoking status and related factors. Data were collected between May 1997 and November 2000. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in 30-day abstinence rates between SI (26%) and UC (12%) conditions at the end of pregnancy among women who had not quit spontaneously with pregnancy (odds ratio [OR]=2.57, p =0.05). This effect remained at 1 month postpartum but was lost at 3- and 6-month postpartum follow-ups. CONCLUSIONS: Brief interventions delivered by healthcare providers during routine prenatal care increased smoking abstinence during pregnancy among women who did not quit spontaneously. Interventions extended into postpartum care did not affect relapse and smoking rates postdelivery.     

Impact of the 5As brief counseling on smoking cessation among pregnant clients of Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women,Infants, and Children (WIC) clinics in Ohio

ObjectivesWe assessed whether smoking cessation improved among pregnant smokers who attended Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Supplemental Nutrition Program clinics trained to implement a brief smoking cessation counseling intervention, the 5As: ask, advise, assess, assist, arrange.MethodsIn Ohio, staff in 38 WIC clinics were trained to deliver the 5As from 2006 through 2010. Using 2005–2011 Pregnancy Nutrition Surveillance System data, we performed conditional logistic regression, stratified on clinic, to estimate the relationship between women's exposure to the 5As and the odds of self-reported quitting during pregnancy. Reporting bias for quitting was assessed by examining whether differences in infants' birth weight by quit status differed by clinic training status.ResultsOf 71,526 pregnant smokers at WIC enrollment, 23% quit. Odds of quitting were higher among women who attended a clinic after versus before clinic staff was trained (adjusted odds ratio, 1.16; 95% confidence interval, 1.04–1.29). The adjusted mean infant birth weight was, on average, 96 g higher among women who reported quitting (P < 0.0001), regardless of clinic training status.ConclusionsTraining all Ohio WIC clinics to deliver the 5As may promote quitting among pregnant smokers, and thus is an important strategy to improve maternal and child health outcomes.     

Alcohol consumption among pregnant smokers: effects of a smoking cessation intervention program

This study describes patterns of alcohol consumption among pregnant women who participated in a randomized clinical trial of smoking cessation intervention. Data on alcohol habits were obtained prospectively prior to the 18th week of gestation and during the 8th month of pregnancy. Average alcohol intake for both groups was reduced primarily prior to registration for prenatal care. The smoking cessation intervention reduced smoking during pregnancy but had no effect on alcohol intake.     

The effect of a structured smoking cessation program, independent of exposure to existing interventions

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the effectiveness of a smoking cessation program for women in public health clinics, controlling for reported exposures to 4 common intervention components (provider advice, booklet, video segment, posters) among smokers in the control group. METHODS: After a baseline control period, 10 pair-matched clinics were randomly assigned to study groups. A total of 1042 smokers in the combined baseline and control groups and 454 smokers in the intervention group completed a preintervention questionnaire and a postintervention telephone interview 5 to 8 weeks later. Eight smoking outcomes, including quitting, were analyzed for the effect of reported exposure to intervention components, experimental program, and clinic service. RESULTS: Greater exposure to intervention components, being in the experimental program, and being seen in prenatal clinics independently improved smoking outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The number of interventions reported by smokers in the control group ranged from none to 4 and varied across clinic services. The experimental program we tested produced better outcomes than the minimal smoking cessation interventions already existing in the control clinics, after we controlled for whether smokers were or were not exposed to these interventions.     

Prenatal Smoking Cessation Intervention and Gestational Weight Gain

BackgroundQuitting smoking is often associated with weight gain and prenatal cessation may lead to increased gestational weight gain (GWG). Although previous reports have suggested a link between prenatal smoking cessation and GWG, no studies have examined the relationship between cessation and guideline-recommended GWG, and there is little information about the relationship between the timing of prenatal cessation and GWG. Thus, we examine GWG among women in a community prenatal smoking cessation program and assess the relationship between the timing of prenatal cessation GWG.MethodsPregnant women from care clinics serving economically disadvantaged women who participated in a smoking cessation intervention offered free of charge, self-reported weight, and provided biochemical verification of smoking. Relationships between duration of cessation and GWG were evaluated in t-tests and regression models. GWG was calculated from self-reported weight before pregnancy and self-reported weight at the last visit before delivery.FindingsWomen who quit earlier during pregnancy had greater GWG (16.9 ± 7.5 kg) than did those who never quit (13.6 ± 8.9). After adjusting for timing of weight assessment and prepregnancy body mass index, however, GWG was not different between women who did and did not quit.ConclusionQuitting earlier in pregnancy is associated with greater GWG, but women who do and do not quit do not differ on total GWG. Despite increased GWG with early cessation, the maternal and fetal health benefits of prenatal smoking cessation outweigh risks of potential risks of excessive GWG.     

Smoking cessation during pregnancy: strategies used by Michigan family physicians

This study reports the attitudes and strategies of members of the Michigan Academy of Family Physicians about their antismoking interventions for pregnant smokers. Of the 978 physicians surveyed, 607 (62 percent) returned completed questionnaires. Three hundred twenty-three (53 percent) were not practicing obstetrics. The remaining 284 physicians currently practicing obstetrics constituted the study group. Ninety-four percent of these physicians routinely assessed smoking status at the first prenatal visit. Ninety-eight percent advised pregnant smokers to quit smoking during pregnancy. The most frequently used method of intervention was personal counseling (97 percent), followed by referral to smoking cessation clinics (40 percent), and behavior modification (20 percent). Fifty-seven percent of the physicians reported using antismoking pamphlets, and 30 percent used antismoking posters designed for pregnant women. Only 11 percent of the physicians surveyed were generally satisfied with the effectiveness of their current methods. Nonetheless, 97 percent were convinced that the benefits of smoking cessation during pregnancy merited their efforts. The physicians in this sample consistently have advised their pregnant smokers to quit, but most believe there is a need for more effective smoking cessation methods.     

The Kaiser Permanente prenatal smoking-cessation trial: when more isn't better, what is enough?

INTRODUCTION: The effectiveness of low-cost smoking interventions targeted to pregnant women has been demonstrated, although few gains in absolute cessation rates have been reported in the past decade. Under conditions of typical clinical practice, this study examined whether outcomes achieved with brief counseling from prenatal care providers and a self-help booklet could be improved by adding more resource-intensive cognitive-behavioral programs. DESIGN: Randomized Clinical Trial. SETTING: A large-group-model managed care organization. PARTICIPANTS: 390 English-speaking women 18 years of age or older who self-reported to be active smokers at their initial prenatal appointment. INTERVENTION: Participants were randomized to one of three groups: (1) a self-help booklet tailored to smoking patterns, stage of change, and lifestyle of pregnant smokers; (2) the booklet plus access to a computerized telephone cessation program based on interactive voice response technology; or (3) the booklet plus proactive telephone counseling from nurse educators using motivational interviewing techniques and strategies. No attempt was made to change smoking-related usual care advice from prenatal providers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Biochemically confirmed abstinence measured by level of cotinine in urine samples obtained during a routine prenatal visit at approximately the 34th week of pregnancy. RESULTS: Twenty percent of participants were confirmed as abstinent with no significant differences found between intervention groups. Multivariate baseline predictors of cessation included number of cigarettes smoked per day, confidence in ability to quit, exposure to passive smoke, and educational level. No differential intervention effects were found within strata of these predictors or by baseline stage of readiness to change. Cessation rates among heavier smokers were strikingly low in all intervention groups. CONCLUSION: Neither a computerized telephone cessation program nor systematic provision of motivational counseling improved cessation rates over a tailored self-help booklet delivered within the context of brief advice from prenatal providers. Innovative strategies need to be developed to increase the effectiveness of existing prenatal smoking interventions. Special attention should be paid to the needs of heavier smokers.     

Predictors of Smoking Cessation in Pregnancy and Maintenance Postpartum in Low-Income Women

Objective: To describe factors associated with smoking status of low-income women during pregnancy and postpartum. Methods: Data from a randomized clinical trial were used to conduct separate analyses on 327 women who smoked at baseline (time at enrollment) and for whom smoking status was available at delivery, and on 109 women who reported not smoking at delivery (quit spontaneously or after study enrollment) and for whom smoking status was available at 6-months postpartum. Salivary cotinine was used to assess the accuracy of self-reported smoking status for the sample as a whole. Data were collected between May 1997 and November 2000. Results: 18% of the 327 baseline smokers stopped smoking before delivery. Cessation was less likely in older women, those reporting Medicaid coverage (vs. commercial or no insurance), who were at a later week of pregnancy at baseline, were more addicted, had a husband/partner who smoked, and did not receive the study intervention. 37% of the 109 women who reported not smoking at delivery maintained abstinence at 6-months postpartum. Factors associated with abstinence were later week of pregnancy at baseline and quitting spontaneously with pregnancy, while women who lived with a smoker were less likely to report abstinence. Spontaneous quitters were less likely to relapse by 6 months postpartum than women who quit smoking later in pregnancy. Conclusions: Partner participation in smoking cessation programs for pregnant and postpartum women merits exploration. Lower relapse rates among spontaneous quitters indicate a need to foster an environment that encourages quitting at pregnancy.     

Trends in Modification of Smoking Behaviors Among Pregnant Women in West Virginia

Background Rates of smoking among pregnant women in West Virginia are higher than national prenatal smoking rates. Recent research has pointed to the benefit of smoking reduction among a sample of pregnant women who participated in a clinical study in West Virginia. The purpose of the current study is to examine trends associated with reduced smoking exposure among a representative sample of pregnant women in the state. Method Secondary data analysis was conducted using de-identified weighted PRAMS 2005–2010 data from West Virginia examining factors associated with favorable change in prenatal smoking behavior, either quitting or reducing smoking in pregnancy. Results Multivariable analyses results demonstrate that pregnant women are more likely to engage in a favorable smoking behavior change if they were younger (<35 years of age), were primiparous, and had a higher level of education. Discussion Findings from the study identified factors that contribute to women’s likelihood of quitting or reducing smoking in pregnancy in West Virginia. Health care providers and policy makers should consider these factors in implementing approaches that will be effective in promoting smoking cessation and reduction among pregnant women in the state thereby reducing prenatal smoking exposure. Conclusion Population-based research has been used to identify factors associated with smoking cessation or reduction that can be used to develop appropriate and effective approaches to modifying health behaviors in specific populations.     

Factors Associated With Quitting Smoking During Pregnancy Among Women Veterans

IntroductionLittle is known about the rates of smoking among pregnant veterans. Our objective was to examine rates of smoking during pregnancy and factors associated with quitting smoking during pregnancy.MethodsWe used data from a cohort study of pregnant veterans from 15 Veterans Health Administration facilities nationwide. Veterans who reported smoking during pregnancy were included in this analysis. Poisson regression models were used to estimate the relative risk (RR) of quitting smoking during pregnancy.ResultsOverall, 133 veterans reported smoking during pregnancy. Among this group of women who smoked, the average age was 31.6 years, 20% were Black, and 14% were Hispanic/Latino. More than one-half of women (65%) who reported smoking at the start of pregnancy quit smoking during pregnancy. Multivariable models, adjusted for history of deployment and age, indicated that prenatal care initiation at 12 or fewer weeks compared with more than 13 weeks (relative risk [RR], 2.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18–3.58), living without household smokers compared with any household smokers (RR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.14–2.17), and first pregnancy (RR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.17–1.95) were significant predictors of quitting versus persistent smoking during pregnancy.ConclusionsWomen veterans who quit smoking may be different than those who continue to smoke during pregnancy. Establishing prenatal care early in pregnancy, which likely includes counseling about smoking cessation, seems to be an important factor in quitting. Those for whom it is not a first pregnancy and who live with other smokers may especially benefit from such counseling.     

Meta-analysis of prenatal smoking cessation interventions

Our purpose was to assess the effect of prenatal smoking interventions on rates of smoking cessation. A total of 37 trials, conducted between 1976 and 2002 and comprising over 14000 women were identified and included in the meta-analyses. There was a significant increasing in the odds of women who quit smoking in late pregnancy in the intervention group (OR = 1.6; 95% CI 1.4-1.8). The effectiveness of the intervention was significantly higher in the studies that smoking cessation intervention included written materials for pregnant women then in the studies without those materials. The percentage of pregnant women who quit smoking was higher among American women than among women from the European Countries.     

Racial/Ethnic Disparities in the Receipt of Smoking Cessation Interventions During Prenatal Care

To explore racial/ethnic disparities in the receipt of optimal smoking cessation counseling during prenatal care. We used data from Oregon’s perinatal surveillance system, the Oregon Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) from 2000 to 2001. A stratified random sample of postpartum women were asked questions about events before, during and after pregnancy, including smoking and provision of smoking cessation counseling. The weighted response rate was 78.8% (n = 3,895). Receipt of a clinician protocol for smoking cessation intervention, called the Five A’s (Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, Arrange), was the outcome of interest. In the Oregon PRAMS survey, we asked women about three of the Five A’s (Ask, Advise, Assist). Of 594 first trimester pregnant smokers, the majority were asked and advised about smoking by a prenatal care provider. However, a substantial proportion of women did not receive assistance to quit and only 42.2% received all three steps. Significant racial/ethnic variations were found only in the Assist step. Compared to non-Hispanic (NH) White women, NH American Indian women had lower odds (adjusted odds ratio [ORa]: 0.45; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.24, 0.85) of receiving all three steps. In contrast, NH Black women had increased odds of receiving all three steps (ORa: 2.43; 95% CI 1.16, 5.10). We conclude that there is a need for prenatal care providers to address tobacco use, especially to Assist quitting, with all pregnant smokers. Healthcare systems should implement system prompts and supports for providers to remind them to address tobacco use with pregnant smokers.     

Getting focused: missed opportunities for smoking interventions for pregnant women receiving Medicaid

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of smoking, and cessation and relapse rates for pregnant women have health and financial implications. Our objectives were to describe smoking among pregnant smokers receiving Medicaid including characteristics associated with reporting discussion of smoking with providers and the association between those discussions with quitting and maintenance. METHODS: Analysis of Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) data from 15 states for 20,287 women with Medicaid for prenatal care during 1998-2000. RESULTS: Thirty-four percent of women smoked before pregnancy (N = 7,686). Most smokers (93%) and nonsmokers (88%) reported discussions about smoking during prenatal care. Women were less likely to have discussed smoking if they were lighter smokers (OR = 1.47; CI = 1.03, 2.12), or reported a previous low-birthweight infant (OR = 1.72; CI = 1.03-2.86). Women reporting discussions (compared to those not) were less likely to quit (ARR = 0.70: CI = 0.59-0.91). Quitters reporting discussions (compared to those not) were no more likely to maintain cessation (ARR = 0.89; CI = 0.7, 1.21). CONCLUSIONS: Smoking cessation interventions can be improved for pregnant women receiving Medicaid, especially if focused to address individual needs of light smokers, those with previous low-birthweight infants, or those who find it most difficult to quit.     

Effects of a population-based smoking cessation programme on smoking in pregnancy.

A controlled study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a low-intensity population-based smoking cessation programme in maternity care clinics. Quitting smoking during pregnancy was assessed by a self-administered questionnaire and verified by hair nicotine concentration. In the intervention area, 58/306 women (19.0%) reported quitting smoking during pregnancy whereas in the reference area the numbers were 22/152 (14.5%) (difference = 4.5%, 95% confidence interval: -2.6%-11.6%). The intervention group indicated that they received more information on adverse effects of smoking, studied the material more actively, and felt that material from maternity care influenced their smoking behaviour more than the reference group.     

Prenatal smoking cessation among Black and White women in Eastern North Carolina

PURPOSE: Limited information is available about Black:White disparities in prenatal smoking cessation, and the results of prior research are inconsistent. We analyzed smoking cessation and factors associated with cessation (attitudes, environment, and nicotine addiction) in a sample of pregnant Black and White women. METHODS: Women were interviewed at the first prenatal visit at two hospital-based clinics. RESULTS: Among former and current smokers, there were no significant differences in the percentage of former smokers between Black (46.8%) and White (43.3%) pregnant women, or in the percentage of "spontaneous quitters" (i.e., those who quit after learning that they were pregnant) for Blacks (36%) and Whites (28%). Both Black and White spontaneous quitters had evidence of occasional relapses to smoking. For Black and White women, smoking more than a pack a day prior to pregnancy was associated with smoking during pregnancy. DISCUSSION: Among current and former smokers, spontaneous cessation was about the same for Black and White women, and about two thirds of women who were smokers when they learned of the pregnancy continued to smoke during pregnancy. Nicotine addiction contributed to continued smoking.     

Pregnancy and medical cost outcomes of a self-help prenatal smoking cessation program in a HMO

The results of a randomized clinical trial of a prenatal self-help smoking cessation program are reported in terms of the pregnancy and cost outcomes. The study population were the socioeconomically and ethnically diverse members of a large health maintenance organization (HMO) who reported that they were smoking at the time of their first prenatal visit. The intervention consisted predominantly of printed materials received through the mail. Compared with the usual care control group, women assigned to the self-help program were more likely to achieve cessation for the majority of their pregnancy (22.2 percent versus 8.6 percent), gave birth to infants weighing on average 57 grams more, and were 45 percent less likely to deliver a low birth weight infant. An economic evaluation of the self-help program was conducted from the perspective of the sponsoring HMO. Based upon the expenditures associated with the neonates' initial hospital episode, the intervention had a benefit-cost ratio of 2.8:1. These findings provide strong evidence to support widespread incorporation of smoking cessation interventions as a standard component of prenatal care.     

Nicotine replacement therapy and other interventions for pregnant smokers: Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, 2009–2010

BackgroundCurrent U.S. guidelines recommend consideration of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for pregnant smokers if behavioral therapies fail, only under close supervision of a provider, and after discussion of known risks of continued smoking and possible risks of NRT. The percentage of pregnant smokers offered NRT by their prenatal care providers is unknown.PurposeThe study aims to calculate the percentage of pregnant smokers offered cessation intervention and NRT and assess independent associations between selected maternal characteristics and being offered NRT.MethodsData were analyzed from the 2009–2010 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System from four states that asked about provider practices for prenatal smoking cessation. Adjusted prevalence ratios were calculated to examine associations between being offered NRT, selected maternal characteristics, and smoking level. Variables used in adjusted models were based on factors associated with smoking cessation during pregnancy from prior literature and included race, age, education, insurance type, and stress.ResultsOf 3559 women who smoked 3 months before pregnancy, 77.4% (95% CI: 74.2, 80.3) of 3rd trimester smokers and 42% (95% CI: 38.5, 46.4) of women who quit smoking during pregnancy were offered at least one cessation method. Among smokers, 19.1% (95% CI: 16.5, 22.1) were offered NRT and of these, almost all (94%) were offered another cessation method.ConclusionsOne in five pregnant smokers was offered NRT. About a quarter of pregnant smokers did not receive any interventions to stop smoking. There may still be reluctance to provide NRT to pregnant women, despite known harms of continued smoking during pregnancy.