Preventing Return to Smoking Postpartum (PReS Study)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Preventing Return to Smoking Postpartum (PReS Study) – Development of a complex intervention to sustain smoking cessation in postpartum women
IRAS ID
221352
Contact name
Caitlin Notley
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 30 days
Research summary
In the UK 26% of women smoked tobacco in the 12 months before pregnancy. Although 54% of smokers quit during pregnancy, 94% of those re-start smoking by 6 months postpartum. Continued postpartum abstinence has major health benefits, as many of the risks attributable to smoking, including cancer and heart disease, can be minimised by cessation. Abstinence also reduces children’s exposure to second hand smoke, with associated risks including respiratory conditions and cot death. In 2015, the UK Royal College of Physicians estimated passive smoking in children had an avoidable annual NHS cost of approximately £23.3 million. This study, funded by the Medical Research Council, aims to develop a novel intervention to support women who have stopped smoking in pregnancy to stay stopped in the postpartum period. In phase 1 (6 months), we will collate evidence from scientific reviews undertaken by our team and other studies to identify suitable intervention components and the underlying theoretical processes of change (behaviour change techniques, BCTs). Promising components are likely to include goal setting, incentives for continued cessation, advice on medication, and social support specifically tailored to postpartum status. The intervention will be developed and refined during phase 2 (6 months) which involves focus groups with pregnant and post-partum women (smokers and ex-smokers), their partners, healthcare and stop smoking professionals. Focus groups will refine intervention content through discussion, and define procedures for delivery of the intervention, (e.g. brief intervention by a healthcare professional then online, or text message support). In phase 3 (6 months), we will test out and further refine the intervention by short meetings with women who have quit smoking during pregnancy. This phase will confirm the optimal procedures for delivery. The output of the study will be the development of a new intervention suitable for further testing in a clinical trial.
REC name
West Midlands - Edgbaston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/WM/0285
Date of REC Opinion
21 Jul 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion