Efficacy and cost-effectiveness of a clinic-based counseling intervention tested in an ethnically diverse sample of pregnant smokers

ObjectiveRates of cigarette smoking are higher among women who receive obstetric care through publicly funded prenatal clinics. This study compared smoking outcomes for pregnant women (n = 105) who were randomized to receive either usual care (standard cessation advice from the health care provider) or an intervention conducted in the prenatal clinic consisting of 1.5 h of counseling plus telephone follow-up delivered by a masters prepared mental health counselor.MethodsSubjects were 105 low income, predominantly Hispanic, pregnant patients in an urban prenatal clinic. Smoking outcomes were assessed at end of pregnancy and 6 months post-partum.ResultsAt follow-up, 28.3% and 9.4% of participants in the experimental intervention and 9.6% and 3.8% of patients in usual care were abstinent at end of pregnancy (p = .015) and 6 months post-partum, respectively (p = .251). Cost of the intervention was $56 per patient and cost to produce a non-smoker at end of pregnancy was $299.ConclusionsThis model for intervention was cost-effective and was associated with significantly lower smoking rates at end of pregnancy.Practical implicationsIf these findings are replicated, prenatal clinics could offer the option for intensive smoking cessation treatment by training mental health counselors to deliver one extended smoking cessation counseling session.