Effectiveness of a pregnancy smoking cessation program.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate two nursing approaches to promoting smoking cessation during initial antenatal visits.


METHODS
Experimental, with assignment to interventions using a random, alternate-day strategy and blind assessment of smoking at baseline, 1 month postintervention, 36 weeks' gestation, and 6 weeks postpartum.


METHODS
224 daily smokers, fewer than 31 weeks gestation, during first prenatal visit, at a teaching hospital antenatal clinic.


METHODS
An evening class providing guidance on a self-help program for 2 hours on a group basis or 20 minutes on an individual basis during the prenatal appointment.


METHODS
Smoking cessation, confirmed by urinary cotinine levels.


RESULTS
All women assigned to the referral intervention received a referral, but none attended the classes. In contrast, 93% assigned to the immediate intervention received the intervention. The group receiving immediate intervention had two to three times higher rates of cessation at all follow-up periods, with significant differences at the 1-month follow-up. There were certain similarities between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Cessation interventions should be administered during the first prenatal visit.
O'Connor
A M
AM
School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Davies
B L
BL
Dulberg
C S
CS
Buhler
P L
PL
Nadon
C
C
McBride
B H
BH
Benzie
R J
RJ
D000328:Adult; D003367:Cotinine / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009773:Obstetric Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*
D003367:Cotinine