Increasing support for smoking cessation during pregnancy and postpartum: results of a randomized controlled pilot study.

Objectives: We examined the feasibility and effectiveness of an intervention to mobilize women in the social networks of pregnant smokers to support smoking cessation.

Methods: This study was conducted in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Columbus, Ohio, from 2005 through 2007. Pregnant smokers (n=82) identified a woman in their social network to help them quit smoking. The resulting dyads were randomized to either intervention (n=54) or control (n=28) conditions. Supporters of intervention subjects received monthly contacts from a counselor about providing effective support; supporters in the control condition were not contacted. Interviews with subjects and supporters were conducted at baseline, end of pregnancy and 3 months postpartum.

Results: Compared with control subjects, intervention group subjects reported that their supporters had provided support behaviors more frequently and were more committed to helping them quit. There was a non-significant trend for more validated quits in the intervention group at the end of pregnancy: 13.0% vs. 3.6% among the controls. Quit rates decreased to 9.3% in the intervention group and 0% in the control group at 3 months postpartum.

Conclusions: Increasing the frequency and quality of support from a woman in the smoker's social network is a promising prenatal smoking cessation strategy.