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Editorials

Incentives for smoking cessation in pregnancy

BMJ 2021; 375 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n2889 (Published 01 December 2021) Cite this as: BMJ 2021;375:n2889

Linked Research

Financial incentives for smoking cessation in pregnancy

  1. Leonieke J Breunis, registrar1,
  2. Linda Bauld, professor2,
  3. Jasper V Been, associate professor3
  1. 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, Erasmus MC Sophia Children’s Hospital, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
  2. 2Usher Institute and SPECTRUM Consortium, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
  3. 3Department of Paediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Erasmus MC Sophia Children’s Hospital, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
  1. Correspondence to: L J Breunis l.breunis{at}erasmusmc.nl

It’s time for practice and policy to reflect compelling evidence of benefit

Smoking during pregnancy is a common modifiable risk factor for adverse child health outcomes.1 Although smoking cessation before and during pregnancy lowers the risk of these adverse outcomes,23 less than half of women who are daily smokers successfully quit during pregnancy.1 This underlines the need for effective interventions to support pregnant smokers to quit. Based on evidence from nine randomised controlled trials, a 2019 Cochrane review concluded that provision of incentives effectively promotes sustained smoking cessation during pregnancy.4 The linked study by Berlin and colleagues (doi:10.1136/BMJ-2021-065217) conducted in 18 maternity wards in France adds to this evidence.5

In six 10 minute face-to-face visits, participants were encouraged to set a quit date; given motivational counselling; and supported to prevent relapse. The participants received a €20 (£17) voucher at the end of each visit to encourage attendance. Those …

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