Prevention of relapse in women who quit smoking during pregnancy

Abstract

Objectives. This study is an evaluation of relapse prevention interventions for smokers who quit during pregnancy. Methods. Pregnant smokers at 2 managed care organizations were randomized to receive a self- help booklet only, prepartum relapse prevention, or prepartum and postpartum relapse prevention. Follow-up surveys were conducted at 28 weeks of pregnancy and at 8 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months postpartum. Results. The pre/post intervention delayed but did not prevent postpartum relapse to smoking. Prevalent abstinence was significantly greater for the pre/post intervention group than for the other groups at 8 weeks (booklet group, 30%; prepartum group, 35%; pre/post group, 39%; P = .02 [different superscripts denote differences at P