Adapting smoking relapse-prevention materials for pregnant and postpartum women: formative research

Abstract

Objective: To decrease smoking relapse among pregnant and postpartum women by adapting existing, validated relapse-prevention materials to meet the unique needs of pregnant and postpartum women.

Methods: A series of semi-structured interviews and learner verification activities were conducted with pregnant abstinent, postpartum abstinent, and postpartum relapsed women. Results were used to create new relapse-prevention materials, specific to the needs of pregnant and postpartum women, which are currently being used in a randomized clinical trial.

Results: Findings are consistent with the recurrent themes in the literature regarding smoking cessation among pregnant and postpartum women and revealed exceptional needs for coping and stress reduction strategies related to remaining abstinent postpartum. Conflict levels were also high in areas of identity, social support, and reasons for quitting.

Conclusion: By interviewing women about their cessation related needs, the current study was able to produce smoking relapse-prevention materials specific to this population. Having pregnant and postpartum women review the modified program materials before starting the clinical trial enhanced the quality, dependability, and validity of the materials. We await the results of the clinical trial to determine if this intervention is indeed more efficacious than previous attempts to intervene with this population.