Predictors of perceiving smoking cessation counselling as a midwife's role: a survey of Dutch midwives.
BACKGROUND
Smoking during pregnancy can have many serious consequences. As the usual providers of pregnancy care in the Netherlands, midwives could serve as effective counsellors to pregnant women about cigarette smoking. The aim of the present study was to identify relevant factors that hamper or promote the provision of effective smoking cessation advice and counselling.


METHODS
Questionnaires were mailed to midwives; 237 (64.4%) were returned. Questions were asked about advantages and disadvantages of giving smoking cessation advice, perceived health benefits for mother and child, smoking behaviour and normative beliefs of colleagues, self-efficacy and role definition of midwives with regard to giving smoking cessation advice.


RESULTS
Midwives who have a more positive role definition regarding giving smoking cessation advice are more convinced of the advantages of giving advice, the advantages of quitting for their clients and perceive more support from their colleagues with regard to giving advice.


CONCLUSIONS
In general, midwives were motivated to provide their clients with smoking cessation advice. They were less comfortable with guiding women through the cessation process. Therefore, effective materials and training should be developed to facilitate and stimulate midwives in their role as effective counsellors.
Bakker
Martijntje J
MJ
Municipal Health Institute The Hague, PO Box 12652, 2500 DP The Hague, The Netherlands. m.j.bakker@ocw.denhaag.nl
de Vries
Hein
H
Mullen
Patricia Dolan
PD
Kok
Gerjo
G
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003376:Counseling / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D009426:Netherlands; D009721:Nurse Midwives / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D024802:Nurse's Role; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires