A smoking cessation program at a public antenatal clinic

Objectives. A randomized trial evaluated the impact of smoking cessation interventions on point prevalence and consecutive quit rates at an Australian public prenatal clinic. Methods. Self-reports and urine cotinine tests confirmed patients' smoking status at the midpoint and end of pregnancy and 6 weeks postpartum. Results. At all points. validated abstinence rates were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group. The rate of failed biochemical validation was significantly higher in the control group than in the experimental group. Conclusions. Prenatal clinic staff can significantly increase quit rates by using cognitive-behavioral strategies. Brief advice appears to be ineffective. (Am J Public Health. 1997;87: 1201-1204)