Implementing evidence-based practice: reducing risk for low birth weight through pregnancy smoking cessation.
In 1989, the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) developed a research utilization program to integrate evidence into practice areas where there were large discrepancies between research evidence and clinical practice. The current program, renamed Research-Based Practice (RBP), uses translational research methods to build from evidence such as that in the Cochrane database and to create protocols for integration of research directly into clinical practice. This article describes the development of the sixth project (RBP6), in which an evidence-based protocol to address smoking in pregnancy was integrated into clinical practice. The protocol includes screening women using descriptive statements and integrates the 5 As (ask, advise, assess, assist, arrange) into prenatal and postpartum care at every visit. By integrating smoking cessation counseling into care, nurses may reduce the risk of low birth weight among pregnant women in both the United States and Canada.
Maloni
Judith A
JA
Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106-4904, USA. jam44@po.cwru.edu
Albrecht
Susan A
SA
Thomas
Karen Kelly
KK
Halleran
JoAnn
J
Jones
Renee
R
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000592:standards*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009773:Obstetric Nursing / Q000592:standards*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D014481:United States; D016387:Women's Health