A Smoking Cessation Intervention in Family Planning Clinics

Abstract

Young women are smoking at higher rates than ever, generating the potential for much smoking related disease. Many of these women, especially those at lower income levels, could be provided with smoking cessation counseling during their regular family planning clinic visits. The purpose of this study was to implement a smoking cessation intervention in public health family planning clinics, and thereby increase the number of these women who quit smoking. A quasi-experimental pilot study of 176 smokers was conducted, using a brief, multimodal smoking cessation intervention in two suburban public family planning clinics. The intervention included a protocol-based smoking cessation message, pamphlets and posters, measurement of exhaled carbon monoxide, and a follow-up letter. Exit questionnaire data showed significant increases in use of all tested cessation techniques. At four-and-a-half month follow-up, self-reported quit rates were 2% in the reference group and 15% in the subjects (95% confidence interval for difference 4–21%). A simple, inexpensive smoking cessation intervention was integrated into a routine family planning clinic visit, increasing shortterm quit rates by more than seven-fold. Such an intervention could have substantial impact on the future health of young women and their children.