Paper
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Smoking Cessation Program for Post-Partum Women: Preliminary Results of a Pilot Project
Sarah Currier, PhD, RNC, NNP1, Brenda Wallingford, MS, RNC, NNP1, Carla Christensen, PharmD2, Pamela Foral, PharmD, BCPS2, Kelly Nystrom, PharmD, BCOP2, Estella Davis, PharmD2, and Christopher Destache, PharmD2. (1) Newborn Intensive Care Unit, Alegent Health Bergan Mercy Medical Center, WA, USA, (2) SPAHP, Creighton University, Omah, NE, USA
| Learning Objective #1: describe the effectiveness of a pilot study of smoking cessation therapy and nicotine replacement therapy for post-partum women. |
| Learning Objective #2: discuss the detrimental effects on infants whose mothers smoke during the post-partum period. |
Background: The Centers for Disease Control reports high rates of smoking post partum. Many women quit smoking during pregnancy but do not consider it a long term change. They do not go through the behavioral change stages associated with smoking cessation during their pregnancy and do not have the resources to maintain their smoke free status after delivering. Objectives: To evaluate the baseline smoking status of post partum women, assess relapse risks of post partum women, and the early effectiveness of smoking cessation counseling (SCC) with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). Design: Prospective pilot study Sample, Setting, Years: Eleven post-partum women from a non-profit community hospital in 2005. Methodology: Approved by the Investigational Review Board. Patients gave informed consent. Eleven patients were enrolled prior to discharge. Mothers and their partners received complimentary access to SCC and NRT. Subjects completed a self administered survey to assess baseline smoking status and relapse risk. Effectiveness of SCC and NRT were measured by follow up surveys performed at 2 and 8 weeks. Findings: At the two-week follow-up, eight mothers were smoke-free (73%) and six of those mothers (75%) had used NRT. None of the four mothers with eight-week follow-ups were smoke-free or had attended SCC. Two mothers were lost to follow-up due to disconnected phone lines. Two of the mothers could not be reached due to conflicting schedules. Conclusion: SCC and NRT have been shown to be effective in the general public. SCC has been shown to be effective in post-partum women, although none of our patients chose to utilize participate. This was the first study to be done with NRT in post-partum women. The two-week results are promising. Future studies in a large population are needed to assess the impact of a full course of NRT and more appropriately timed SCC.