title: Pilot randomized controlled trial of an internet-based smoking cessation intervention for pregnant smokers ('MumsQuit').
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Internet-based Smoking Cessation Interventions could help pregnant women quit smoking, especially those who do not wish to, or cannot, access face-to-face or telephone support. This study aimed to preliminarily evaluate the effectiveness and usage of a fully automated smoking cessation website targeted to pregnancy, 'MumsQuit', and obtain an initial effect-size estimate for a full scale trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 200 UK-based pregnant adult smokers online to a two-arm double-blind pilot RCT assessing the effectiveness of MumsQuit compared with an information-only website. MumsQuit was adapted from a generic internet smoking cessation intervention, 'StopAdvisor'. The primary outcome was self-reported continuous 4-week abstinence assessed at 8 weeks post-baseline. Secondary outcomes were automatically collected data on intervention usage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants smoked 15 cigarettes per day on average, 73% were in the first trimester of their pregnancy, 48% were from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and 43% had never used evidence-based cessation support. The point estimate of odds ratio for the primary outcome was 1.5 (95% CI=0.8-2.9; 28% vs. 21%). Compared with control participants, those in the MumsQuit group logged in more often (3.5 vs. 1.3, p<0.001), viewed more pages (67.4 vs. 5.7, p<0.001) and spent more time browsing the website (21.3min vs. 1.0min, p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MumsQuit is an engaging and potentially helpful form of support for pregnant women who seek cessation support online, and merits further development and evaluation in a full-scale RCT.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, UK. Electronic address: aaherbec@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herbec
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, UK.
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, UK.
authors.forename: Ildiko
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tombor
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, UK; National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training, 1-6 Yarmouth Place, London W1J 7BU, UK.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Michie
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, UK; National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training, 1-6 Yarmouth Place, London W1J 7BU, UK.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: West
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018579:Patient Selection; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012648:Self Care; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Internet; Pregnancy; Self-help; Smoking cessation