Proactive delivery of nicotine replacement therapy to families of hospitalized infants in a NICU: A randomized controlled pilot trial

Neonatal ICU (NICU) hospitalizations provide opportunities to engage individuals/families who smoke with evidence-based cessation treatments to protect infants from tobacco smoke exposure. The aim of this pilot study was to establish the feasibility and potential efficacy of providing motivational advice and NRT (MA + NRT) to families of NICU infants. RCT methodology equally allocated participants who reported ≥1 household smoker (N = 32) from a large NICU to MA + NRT or referral to a Quitline. The primary outcome was accepting NRT patches (MA + NRT) and use of NRT. Bayesian analyses modeled NRT use as a function of treatment group. Most MA + NRT participants (81.3%; n = 13) accepted the patches. No Quitline participants called the Quitline. NRT use differed across groups, indicating a 0.907 posterior probability that a positive effect for MA + NRT exists (RR = 2.32, 95% CI = [0.68–11.34]). This study demonstrated feasibility and acceptability for offering NRT and motivational advice to NICU parents and supports further intervention refinement with NICU families.