A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL OF SMOKING CESSATION INTERVENTION IN PREGNANCY IN AN ACADEMIC CLINIC

To evaluate the effectiveness of a physician-based intervention to pro mote smoking cessation during pregnancy, we conducted this randomized controlled trial in the resident-staffed prenatal clinics at the Unive rsity of North Carolina Women's Hospital. Two hundred fifty prenatal p atients who smoked were enrolled at their first visit and randomly ass igned to the intervention or the usual-care group. Resident physicians provided self-help materials to intervention subjects and used a scri pt to set goals with them at each prenatal visit. Subjects who set qui t dates were contacted by volunteer cessation counselors. To verify sm oking status, subjects provided a self-report and breath carbon monoxi de (GO) sample at each visit. Controls were similarly assessed at enro llment and at three additional predetermined intervals. Twenty percent of intervention subjects and 10% of controls reported cessation, whic h was verified by CO level (P = .052). Fifty-one percent of subjects r educed their consumption by half or more, compared with 30% of control s (P = .002). The intervention is effective in promoting smoking cessa tion and reduction. In addition, this technique is inexpensive, readil y accepted by staff, and efficient.