MODELING SMOKING CESSATION - EXPLORING THE USE OF A VIDEOTAPE TO HELPPREGNANT-WOMEN QUIT SMOKING

This exploratory study examined the acceptability and efficacy of a vi deotape modeling smoking cessation as an adjunct to smoking cessation advice delivered during prenatal care. In a randomized controlled tria l involving 60 women, we compared the delivery of brief smoking cessat ion advice and a tipsheet to the same advice and tipsheet plus provisi on of the videotape. Outcomes included opinions about content and acce ptability of the videotape, and smoking behavior change during pregnan cy. The most highly endorsed features of the videotape were seeing oth er women quitting smoking (77%), dealing with stress and bad feelings (69%), talking about what to do with urges to smoke (69%), and discuss ing ways to get support from families and friends (54%). The reported quit rate in the last month of pregnancy, validated by exhaled carbon monoxide levels, and including women lost to follow-up as smokers, was 19.2% in the intervention group and 0% in the comparison group (p = . 02). This study suggests that the use of videotapes modeling smoking b ehavior change may increase the effectiveness of the assistance in qui tting smoking that is generally available in obstetric and family prac tices or public maternity clinics.