Attitudes to E-Cigarettes and Cessation Support for Pregnant Women from English Stop Smoking Services: A Mixed Methods Study

Sue Cooper, Sophie Orton, Katarzyna A. Campbell, Michael Ussher, Naomi Coleman-Haynes, Rachel Whitemore, Anne Dickinson, Andy McEwen, Sarah Lewis, Felix Naughton, Katharine Bowker, Lesley Sinclair, Linda Bauld and Tim Coleman
Additional contact information
Sue Cooper: Division of Primary Care, University of Nottingham, Tower Building, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
Sophie Orton: Division of Primary Care, University of Nottingham, Tower Building, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
Katarzyna A. Campbell: Division of Primary Care, University of Nottingham, Tower Building, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
Michael Ussher: Population Health Research Institute, St George’s University of London, Cranmer Terrace, Tooting, London SW17 0RE, UK
Naomi Coleman-Haynes: Division of Primary Care, University of Nottingham, Tower Building, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
Rachel Whitemore: Division of Primary Care, University of Nottingham, Tower Building, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
Anne Dickinson: Division of Primary Care, University of Nottingham, Tower Building, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
Andy McEwen: National Centre of Smoking Cessation and Training, Dorchester DT1 2DY, UK
Sarah Lewis: Division of Epidemiology and Public health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham City Hospital, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK
Felix Naughton: School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7UL, UK
Katharine Bowker: Division of Primary Care, University of Nottingham, Tower Building, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
Lesley Sinclair: Usher Institute, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK
Linda Bauld: Usher Institute, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK
Tim Coleman: Division of Primary Care, University of Nottingham, Tower Building, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-17

Abstract: Smoking in pregnancy remains a public health problem. In the UK e-cigarettes are the most popular aid to quitting smoking outside of pregnancy, but we don’t know the extent of e-cigarette use in pregnancy or how English Stop Smoking Services (SSS) respond to pregnant women who vape. In 2015 we surveyed SSS managers about cessation support for pregnant women and responses to clients who vaped. Subsequently we interviewed a sub-sample of managers to seek explanations for the SSS’ position on e-cigarettes; interviews were thematically analysed. Survey response rate was 67.8% (72/106); overall managers reported 2.2% (range 1.4–4.3%) of pregnant clients were using e-cigarettes. Most SSS reported supporting pregnant women who already vaped, but would not recommend e-cigarette use; for women that were still smoking and not using e-cigarettes, 8.3% of SSS were likely/very likely to advise using e-cigarettes, with 56.9% of SSS unlikely/very unlikely to advise using them. Fifteen respondents were interviewed; interviewees were generally positive about the potential of e-cigarettes for cessation in pregnancy although concerns about perceived lack of evidence for safety were expressed and most wanted research on this. Clear guidance on e-cigarette use informed by pregnancy specific research will assist SSS to provide consistent evidence-based support.

Keywords: smoking cessation; smoking; pregnancy; e-cigarettes; electronic cigarettes; stop smoking services; survey; interviews; mixed methods (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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