Centre for Health Promotion and Cancer Prevention Research,Medical School,
University of Queensland

Abstract

Currently, two antenatal smoking cessation programs are widely available in Australia. One is a magazine style booklet that addresses a range of issues dealing with smoking and pregnancy, and includes a 5-day quitting smoking guide. The second program comprises three pamphlets of approximately ten pages each dealing with smoking and pregnancy, staying a quitter after pregnancy , and passive smoking and children. A three group randomised control trial was used to compare the acceptability and effectiveness of these programs. After completing a pre- test questionnaire at their antenatal bookin appointment, a consecutive series of 453 smoking pregnant women were randomised to receive one of the two programs or "usual care". Biochemically verified smoking status at mid-pregnancy was ascertained by either telephone interview (n = 245) or postal survey (n = 64) as necessary. The study found that the programs can be effective (quite rate = 9.8%) and there was no significant difference in the quit rates for the two programs (p = 0.274). The process evaluation suggested that it might be possible to improve the overall effectiveness of such self help materials by offering a choice to women. Attention has now turned to the dissemination of these self help antenatal smoking cessation materials, and we report early results of a hospital based diffusion trial currently being conducted in Queensland.

Keywords

Contact

Balanda Kevin P.

Institution

Centre for Health Promotion and Cancer Prevention Research,Medical School, University of Queensland

Postaddress

Herston Road

Postcode

4006 Herston QLD 4006

Country

Australia

E-mail

K.Balanda@mailbox.uq.edu.au

Phone

+ 617 3365 5330

Fax

+ 617 3365 5540