Obstetricians’ and Gynecologists’ Communication Practices around Smoking Cessation in Pregnancy, Secondhand Smoke and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): A Survey

Jennah M. Sontag, Binu Singh, Barbara M. Ostfeld, Thomas Hegyi, Michael B. Steinberg and Cristine D. Delnevo
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Jennah M. Sontag: SIDS Center of New Jersey, Department of Pediatrics, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
Binu Singh: Center for Tobacco Studies, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
Barbara M. Ostfeld: SIDS Center of New Jersey, Department of Pediatrics, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
Thomas Hegyi: SIDS Center of New Jersey, Department of Pediatrics, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
Michael B. Steinberg: Center for Tobacco Studies, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
Cristine D. Delnevo: Center for Tobacco Studies, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 8, 1-10

Abstract: Secondhand smoke (SHS) is a potential direct cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) among infants. Disparities in SHS exposure and SIDS deaths may be due to inconsistent communication among practitioners about SHS/SIDS risks. In order to assess current SHS/SIDS risks and communication practices and to identify areas of improvement, we conducted a survey of 316 obstetricians and gynecologists (ob/gyns) about the length of time spent having discussions, supplemental materials used, risks covered, cessation, and frequency of discussions. Most (55.3%) reported spending 1–4 min discussing risks/cessation. Nearly a third reported not using any supplemental materials; few used apps (4.4%) or videos (1.9%). Assisting patients with steps toward cessation was infrequent. Few ob/gyns had discussions with patients immediately postpartum. Only 51.9% strongly agreed that they felt sufficiently informed about SHS/SIDS risks to educate their patients. The communication by ob/gyns of SHS/SIDS risk varies greatly and presents opportunities for improvement. Each additional minute spent having discussions and the use of supplemental materials, such as apps, may improve communication effectiveness. The discussion of smoking behaviors immediately postpartum may help to prevent smoker relapse. An increased awareness of statewide cessation resources by ob/gyns is needed to assist patients with cessation. The development of standardized risk messaging may reduce the variation in communication practices among ob/gyns.

Keywords: cessation; secondhand smoke; SIDS; risk communication; obstetricians and gynecologists; pediatrics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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