An integrated approach to prenatal smoking cessation interventions

Abstract

This article encourages the incorporation of smoking cessation activities into routine nursing care in the prenatal period. A brief background is given regarding the problem of smoking in women--especially pregnant women and adolescents. A model is suggested that integrates the Stages of Change framework with a program for planning, implementing, and evaluating smoking cessation activities in the clinical setting. The use of biochemical testing for cotinine, a biomarker of nicotine, is also explored as an evaluation tool and a method of self-report confirmation. The nurse is uniquely poised to reduce both the healthcare and economic burden of smoking during pregnancy. Because cigarette smoking is a major public health problem in the United States today, it is important for nurses to have a background in smoking assessment, cessation, and evaluation methods. It is critical for all nurses in obstetric, pediatric, hospital, and clinic settings to use this knowledge to assist vulnerable clients in achieving lifetime abstinence from cigarettes.