Baby BEEP: A randomized controlled trial of nurses' individualized social support for poor rural pregnant smokers

Matern Child Health J. 2009 May;13(3):395-406. doi: 10.1007/s10995-008-0363-z. Epub 2008 May 22.

Abstract

Objectives: We tested the effect of nurse-delivered telephone individualized social support ("Baby BEEP") and eight mailed prenatal smoking cessation booklets singly and in combination (2 x 2 factorial design) on smoking cessation in low-income rural pregnant women (N = 695; 75% participation).

Methods: Participants randomized to Baby BEEP groups (n = 345) received weekly calls throughout pregnancy plus 24-7 beeper access. Saliva cotinine samples were collected monthly from all groups by other nurses at home visits up to 6 weeks post-delivery. Primary outcomes were point prevalence abstinence (cotinine < 30 ng/ml) in late pregnancy and post-delivery.

Results: Only 47 women were lost to follow-up. Intent-to-treat analyses showed no difference across intervention groups (17-22%, late pregnancy; 11-13.5%, postpartum), and no difference from the controls (17%, late pregnancy; 13%, postpartum). Post hoc analyses of study completers suggested a four percentage-point advantage for the intervention groups over controls in producing early and mid-pregnancy continuous abstainers. Partner smoking had no effect on late pregnancy abstinence (OR = 1.7, 95% CI = 0.95, 3.2), but post-delivery, the effect was pronounced (OR = 3.2, 95% CI = 1.8, 5.9).

Conclusions: High abstinence rates in the controls indicate the power of biologic monitoring and home visits to assess stress, support, depression, and intimate partner violence; these elements plus booklets were as effective as more intensive interventions. Targeting partners who smoke is needed.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Midwestern United States / epidemiology
  • Nurse's Role*
  • Poverty
  • Pregnancy
  • Rural Population*
  • Smoking / epidemiology
  • Smoking Cessation / methods*
  • Social Support*
  • Telecommunications
  • Young Adult