Perceived barriers to and benefits of attending a stop smoking course during pregnancy

Healthcare Providers’ Views on Digital Smoking Cessation Interventions for Pregnant Women

“…However, important limitations and recommendations regarding their design and delivery need to be considered and addressed. Our findings 21 suggested that digital smoking cessation interventions may help to overcome the barriers to accessing face-to-face smoking cessation support, as previously noted by service providers (Abatemarco et al, 2007;Price et al, 2006;Tappin et al, 2010) and pregnant women (Herberts & Sykes, 2012;Ingall & Cropley, 2010;Ussher et al, 2006). However, and also consistent with the literature, convenience (Naughton et al, 2013), anonymity (Szwajcer, Hiddink, Koelen, & Woerkum, 2005) and the provision of information over and above HCP support (Huberty, Dinkel, Beets, & Coleman, 2012) are likely to be important in motivating pregnant women to seek health information via digital sources.…”

“…Uptake of these interventions is low (Tappin et al, 2010) and barriers to smoking cessation support can be identified at each step: identification of pregnant smokers, referral to specialist smoking cessation services, engagement with services, and smoking cessation treatment (Beenstock et al, 2012;Tappin et al, 2010). According to pregnant smokers, reasons for their reluctance to engage with smoking cessation services include negative feelings about smoking cessation services and speaking with someone face-to-face, and/or having difficulties accessing 6 health care facilities (Herberts & Sykes, 2012;Ingall & Cropley, 2010;Ussher, Etter, & West, 2006). Barriers identified by HCPs include lack of time and competing priorities during appointments, fear of causing guilt and shame, and putting extra pressure on pregnant smokers (Abatemarco, Steinberg, & Delnevo, 2007;Beenstock et al, 2012;Herberts & Sykes, 2012;Price, Jordan, & Dake, 2006;Thyrian et al, 2006).…”

The perceived effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions aimed at pregnant women: A qualitative study of smokers, former smokers and non-smokers

“…One explanation for the poor uptake of smoking cessation interventions amongst pregnant women is a low level of perceived effectiveness associated with available services. A recent questionnaire survey of pregnant smokers has demonstrated that women feel there are many barriers to using smoking cessation courses (Ussher et al, 2006). Of 443 women, only 5e6% of respondents indicated that they had attended a smoking cessation course during their current or a previous pregnancy and only 49.2% had made a 'serious attempt' at cessation during their current pregnancy.…”

“…They will also be subject to peer pressure from other smokers, non-smokers and former smokers in their local communities who may encourage or disapprove of maternal smoking activity. Indeed, pregnant smokers have reported that the greatest source of pressure to quit cigarettes came from their partners, as opposed to health professionals, in one study (Ussher et al, 2006). As smoking in pregnancy is a complex social behaviour, as much as a biomedical problem, it is important to explore the views of smokers, non-smokers and former smokers from affluent and deprived communities to identify their views on the perceived effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions.…”

Smoking During Pregnancy and Smoking Cessation Services

“…Previous research has shown that pregnant women face multiple barriers in attempting to quit smoking including lack of understanding about the risks, fear of failure, fear of weight gain, factors related to addiction and withdrawal and factors related to their wider social context (Greaves et al, 2003). One recent study explored why women in the United States and the United Kingdom did not choose to access smoking cessation services and found that unwillingness to seek help and lack of available local services may also play a role (Ussher et al, 2006). Another study (Lowry et al, 2004) focusing on the north east of England found that unsatisfactory information, lack of enthusiasm or empathy from healthcare professionals and short-term support, all contributed to few women accessing services.…”