Abstract
BackgroundSmoking tobacco remains the most significant modifiable cause of adverse pregnancy outcomes and contributor to ongoing maternal and infant ill-health. Pregnancy for many is a time of heightened health focus, with the primary motivation being the well-being of the unborn child. Yet, many women continue to smoke throughout their pregnancy. Despite this heightened motivation and known health risks, interventions to date have not effectively curbed the rate of smoking during pregnancy and they remain as high as rates among the general population. One promising strategy has been to incentivize these women to quit. However, incentives-based studies have not shown or reported long-term efficacy. Here, we present the protocol of a trial exploring the effect of incentivized partner support on pre- and postpartum smoking cessation.ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to determine whether providing incentives to both the expectant mother and her support person in promoting short- and long-term smoking cessation during pregnancy is more effective than incentives to the expectant mother alone.MethodsThis protocol is designed as a non-randomized, single-blinded trial to determine the efficacy of incentivized partner support, compared to participant incentive only, in promoting smoking cessation during pregnancy and postpartum. All eligible pregnant women receiving antenatal care via the Tasmanian Health Service (Australia) will be invited to participate. Participants will be eligible for monthly quit-contingent shopping vouchers if they verify, via carbon monoxide breath sample, as being abstinent from smoking. Participating women will be eligible for vouchers until 6-months postpartum and will be followed up at 12-months postpartum.ResultsThe recruitment phase of this study has concluded. Results are expected to be published by the end of 2018.ConclusionsThis study protocol extends the current literature on incentivized smoking cessation interventions for pregnant women by assessing the influence of incentivizing a support partner on short- and long-term abstinence. Key ethical considerations are discussed including potential for receipt (or not) of quit-contingent vouchers impacting negatively on the participant’s relationship with their partner. The findings of the study may have important implications for the role support partners are assigned in smoking cessation programs targeting pregnant women.Trial RegistrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN): 12615001158550; https://www.anzctr.org.au/ Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=367981 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6tGKO28uh)
Highlights
Smoking and Perinatal HealthSmoking during pregnancy is recognized as the single most modifiable cause of poor pregnancy outcomes [1] and the risks to mother and baby have been reported extensively elsewhere [2]
This protocol is designed as a non-randomized, single-blinded trial to determine the efficacy of incentivized partner support, compared to participant incentive only, in promoting smoking cessation during pregnancy and postpartum
This study protocol extends the current literature on incentivized smoking cessation interventions for pregnant women by assessing the influence of incentivizing a support partner on short- and long-term abstinence
Summary
Smoking during pregnancy is recognized as the single most modifiable cause of poor pregnancy outcomes [1] and the risks to mother and baby have been reported extensively elsewhere [2]. Infant exposure to second-hand smoke has been shown to further compound these negative health consequences [2] Despite these known risks, many women continue to smoke during and after pregnancy, at rates comparable to the general smoking population [8,9]. Many women continue to smoke throughout their pregnancy Despite this heightened motivation and known health risks, interventions to date have not effectively curbed the rate of smoking during pregnancy and they remain as high as rates among the general population. We present the protocol of a trial exploring the effect of incentivized partner support on pre- and postpartum smoking cessation
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