Factors relating to the uptake of interventions for smoking cessation among pregnant women: a systematic review and qualitative synthesis.
BACKGROUND
The review had the aim of investigating factors enabling or discouraging the uptake of smoking cessation services by pregnant women smokers.


METHODS
The literature was searched for papers relating to the delivery of services to pregnant or recently pregnant women who smoke. No restrictions were placed on study design. A qualitative synthesis strategy was adopted to analyze the included papers.


RESULTS
Analysis and synthesis of the 23 included papers suggested 10 aspects of service delivery that may have an influence on the uptake of interventions. These were whether or not the subject of smoking is broached by a health professional, the content of advice and information provided, the manner of communication, having service protocols, follow-up discussion, staff confidence in their skills, the impact of time and resource constraints, staff perceptions of ineffectiveness, differences between professionals, and obstacles to accessing interventions.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest variation in practice between services and different professional groups, in particular regarding the recommendation of quitting smoking versus cutting down but also in regard to procedural aspects, such as recording status and repeat advice giving. These differences offer the potential for a pregnant woman to receive contradicting advice. The review suggests a need for greater training in this area and the greater use of protocols, with evidence of a perception of ineffectiveness/pessimism toward intervention among some service providers.
Baxter
Susan
S
Section of Public Health, School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Regent Court, 30 Regent Street, Sheffield, S1 4DA, UK. s.k.baxter@sheffield.ac.uk
Everson-Hock
Emma
E
Messina
Josie
J
Guillaume
Louise
L
Burrows
Julia
J
Goyder
Elizabeth
E
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003376:Counseling / Q000458:organization & administration; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000458:organization & administration; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention