Effectiveness of a pregnancy smoking cessation program.

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Public Health
• Nursing

Background:

• Smoking during pregnancy poses significant health risks to both mother and fetus.
• Effective smoking cessation interventions during antenatal care are crucial for improving pregnancy outcomes.
• Previous approaches have shown variable success rates in helping pregnant individuals quit smoking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of two nursing-led smoking cessation interventions during initial antenatal visits.
• To determine the optimal timing and delivery method for smoking cessation support in pregnant smokers.

Main Methods:

• A randomized experimental design was employed with 224 daily smokers attending a teaching hospital antenatal clinic.
• Participants were assigned to either an immediate, individualized intervention or a group-based referral program.
• Smoking cessation was biochemically verified using urinary cotinine levels at multiple follow-up points.

Main Results:

• The immediate intervention group achieved significantly higher smoking cessation rates compared to the referral group at all follow-up periods.
• 93% of participants in the immediate intervention group received the counseling, while none attended the referral classes.
• Cessation rates were notably higher at the 1-month follow-up in the immediate intervention group.

Conclusions:

• Smoking cessation interventions delivered immediately during the first prenatal visit are highly effective.
• Individualized, immediate nursing support is superior to group-based referral for promoting smoking cessation in pregnant women.
• Integrating cessation support early in antenatal care is essential for successful outcomes.