Objectives Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) puts women and children at risk of obesity. We piloted an SMS-texting intervention to promote healthy GWG among overweight and obese women. Methods We recruited 35 women and randomized them in a 2:1 fashion to: a tailored SMS-texting intervention (Preg CHAT) vs. a generic texting intervention (Txt4baby). Preg CHAT texts provided personalized feedback based on women's intake of sweetened beverages, fruits and vegetables, fast food, daily steps taken, and weight. We abstracted women's weights from charts and surveyed women at baseline and 32 weeks gestation. Results Few women refused the study; many (30%) did not complete the study, however. Of those in the Preg CHAT arm, 86% responded to texts, and 80% said they would recommend this program to a friend. For women who completed the surveys (n=23), those in the Preg CHAT arm had a mean gain of 6 less pounds than women in the Txt4Baby arm (95% CI -15.9, 4.0; p=0.24). Conclusions This pilot study shows feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of a low-intensity and disseminable intervention to help overweight and obese women reduce GWG. Practice implications An SMS texting program might help overweight women reduce excessive GWG.

Background Although many Latinos in the US smoke, they receive assistance to quit less often than non-Latinos. To address this disparity, we recruited Latino couples into a randomized controlled trial and provided a smoking cessation program during a teachable moment, when men’s partners were pregnant. Methods We compared two interventions: 1) written materials plus nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to 2) materials, NRT, and couple-based counseling that addressed smoking cessation and couples communication. We recruited 348 expectant fathers who smoked via their pregnant partners from county health departments. Our primary outcome was 7-day point prevalence smoking abstinence and was collected from November 2010 through April 2013 and analyzed it in February 2014. Results We found high rates of cessation but no arm differences in smoking rates at the end of pregnancy (0.31 vs. 0.30, materials only vs. counseling, respectively) and 12 months after randomization (postpartum: 0.39 vs. 0.38). We found high quit rates among non-daily smokers but no arm differences (0.43 vs. 0.46 in pregnancy and 0.52 vs. 0.48 postpartum). Among daily smokers, we found lower quit rates with no arm differences but effects favoring the intervention arm (0.13 vs. 0.16 in pregnancy and 0.17 vs. 0.24 postpartum). Conclusions A less intensive intervention promoted cessation equal to more intensive counseling. Postpartum might be a more powerful time to promote cessation among Latino men. Impact Less intensive interventions when delivered during teachable moments for Latino men could result in a high smoking cessation rate and could reduce disparities.

introduction:Smoking during pregnancy causes multiple perinatal complications; yet, the smoking rate among pregnant women has remained relatively stagnant. Most interventions to help pregnant smokers quit or reduce their smoking are not easily disseminable. Innovative and disseminable interventions are needed.

No abstract

Objective Physicians' use of Motivational Interviewing (MI) techniques when discussing weight with adolescent patients is unknown. Methods We coded audio-recorded encounters between 49 primary care physicians and 180 overweight adolescent patients. During weight discussions, we used the MITI 3.0 to assess: Empathy, MI Spirit, open-ended questions, reflections, MI consistent behaviors (e.g., praising,) and MI inconsistent behaviors (e.g., confronting). We examined associations of patient and physician characteristics with 1) MI techniques, 2) time discussing weight, and 3) encounter time. Results Physicians used more MI consistent techniques with female patients (p=0.06) and with heavier patients (p=0.02). Physicians with prior MI training also used more MI consistent techniques (p=0.04) and asked more open-ended questions (p=0.05). Pediatricians had a higher MI Spirit score than family physicians (p=0.03). Older patient age was associated with physicians spending less time discussing weight-related topics (p=0.04) and higher BMI percentile was associated with physicians spending more time discussing weight-related topics (p=0.01). Increased use of MI inconsistent techniques was associated with longer encounters (p=0.02). Conclusion Physicians' weight discussions vary based on adolescent and physician characteristics. Importantly, not using MI lengthened encounter time. Practice implications Physicians might consider using MI techniques more and attempt to use these equally with all adolescents.