Is pregnancy a teachable moment for smoking cessation among US  Latino expectant fathers? A pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
Pregnancy may be a time when US Latino expectant fathers consider quitting smoking. A 'teachable moment' is theorized to increase motivation to change a behavior through increased risk perceptions, emotional responses, and changes in self-image.


METHODS
We recruited 30 Spanish-speaking expectant fathers through their pregnant partners. We assessed expectant fathers' diet, exercise, and smoking and teachable moment constructs (risk perceptions, emotional responses, and self-image).We also tested correlations between teachable moment constructs and motivation to change behaviors.


RESULTS
Latino expectant fathers had high-risk perceptions that their smoking harmed the pregnancy (M=4.4, SD=0.5 on five-point scale) and strong emotional responses about their smoking during pregnancy (M=3.9, SD=1.1). They also felt it was their role to make the pregnancy healthy (M=4.4, SD=0.8). They felt less strongly that their diet and exercise affected the pregnancy. The teachable moment constructs for smoking were strongly correlated with motivation to quit smoking; the same was not true for diet and exercise.


CONCLUSIONS
Latino expectant fathers seem aware that their smoking could harm the pregnancy but seem less concerned about the effect of their diet and exercise on the pregnancy. Pregnancy may be a time to help Latino expectant fathers quit smoking.
Pollak
Kathryn I
KI
Department of Community and Family Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, 2424 Erwin Road, Suite 602, Durham, NC 27705, USA. kathryn.pollak@duke.edu
Denman
Susan
S
Gordon
Kristina Coop
KC
Lyna
Pauline
P
Rocha
Pilar
P
Brouwer
Rebecca N
RN
Fish
Laura
L
Baucom
Donald H
DH
D000328:Adult; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D012306:Risk; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D014481:United States