A Qualitative Study of Factors Influencing Adherence among Pregnant Women Taking Part in a Trial of E-Cigarettes for Smoking Cessation

Allison Ford, Isabelle Uny, Judith Lowes, Felix Naughton, Sue Cooper, Tim Coleman, Peter Hajek, Dunja Przulj, Katie Myers Smith, Linda Bauld, Lesley Sinclair, Robert Walton, Miranda Clark and Michael Ussher
Additional contact information
Allison Ford: Institute for Social Marketing and Health, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
Isabelle Uny: Institute for Social Marketing and Health, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
Judith Lowes: Institute for Social Marketing and Health, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
Felix Naughton: Behavioural and Implementation Science Group, School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
Sue Cooper: Division of Primary Care, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
Tim Coleman: Division of Primary Care, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
Peter Hajek: Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Barts & The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AT, UK
Dunja Przulj: Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Barts & The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AT, UK
Katie Myers Smith: Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Barts & The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AT, UK
Linda Bauld: Usher Institute and SPECTRUM Consortium, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Old Medical School, Teviot Place, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK
Lesley Sinclair: Usher Institute and SPECTRUM Consortium, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Old Medical School, Teviot Place, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK
Robert Walton: Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Barts & The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AT, UK
Miranda Clark: Division of Primary Care, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
Michael Ussher: Institute for Social Marketing and Health, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 2, 1-14

Abstract: Use of e-cigarettes (vaping) has potential to help pregnant women stop smoking. This study explored factors influencing adherence among participants in the vaping arm of the first trial of vaping for smoking cessation in pregnancy. We conducted semi-structured telephone interviews (n = 28) with women at three-months postpartum. Interviews were analysed using thematic analysis, informed by the Theoretical-Domains Framework, Necessity-Concerns Framework and Perceptions and Practicalities Approach. Interviewees generally reported high levels of vaping. We found that: (1) intervention adherence was driven by four necessity beliefs—stopping smoking for the baby, and vaping for harm reduction, smoking cessation or as a last resort; (2) necessity beliefs outweighed vaping concerns, such as dependence and safety; (3) adherence was linked to four practicalities themes, acting as barriers and facilitators to vaping—device and e-liquid perceptions, resources and support, whether vaping became habitual, and social and environmental factors; and (4) intentional non-adherence was rare; unintentional non-adherence was due to device failures, forgetting to vape, and personal circumstances and stress. Pregnant smokers provided with e-cigarettes, and with generally high levels of vaping, had positive beliefs about the necessity of vaping for smoking cessation which outweighed concerns about vaping. Non-adherence was mainly due to unintentional factors.

Keywords: e-cigarettes; vaping; qualitative; interviews; pregnancy; necessity-concerns framework; perceptions and practicalities approach (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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