Understanding pregnant women’s adherence-related beliefs about Nicotine Replacement Therapy for smoking cessation: A qualitative study

McDaid, Lisa ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5032-2380, Thomson, Ross, Emery, Joanne ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8915-7033, Coleman, Tim, Cooper, Sue, Phillips, Lucy, Bauld, Linda and Naughton, Felix (2021) Understanding pregnant women’s adherence-related beliefs about Nicotine Replacement Therapy for smoking cessation: A qualitative study. British Journal of Health Psychology, 26 (1). pp. 179-197. ISSN 1359-107X

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Abstract

Introduction: Reducing smoking during pregnancy is a public health priority. Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is offered routinely to pregnant women who smoke in the UK. However, evidence of treatment efficacy in this population is weak, most likely due to poor adherence. Guided by the Necessity-Concerns Framework, we conducted a qualitative study to better understand pregnant women’s perceived needs and concerns regarding NRT use, with consideration of combination NRT. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted by telephone with 18 pregnant or recently pregnant women in England and Wales, purposively sampled for different NRT-related experiences. Participants were recruited online via Facebook adverts and through a Stop Smoking Service. A hybrid approach of deductive and inductive thematic coding was used for analysis. Results: Findings were organised around three themes: 1) the role of motivation to stop smoking; 2) necessity beliefs about using NRT; and 3) concerns about NRT. Some women reported fluctuating motivation for stopping smoking which undermined their NRT use. Others used NRT to cut down the number of cigarettes they smoked. Reasons for low NRT necessity beliefs included: a preference for quitting unassisted, low or unrealistic expectations of efficacy and over-confidence in achieving cessation (necessity testing). Concerns included: safety, particularly around increased nicotine exposure with combination NRT, addictiveness, side effects and capability to use. Conclusion: Pregnant women have multiple necessity beliefs and concerns that influence their use of NRT. Targeting these, alongside increasing and maintaining motivation to quit smoking, will likely help optimise NRT use in pregnancy and improve quit rates.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: smoking in pregnancy,nicotine replacement therapy,smoking cessation,nrt,necessity-concerns framework,pregnancy,medication adherence,applied psychology,sdg 3 - good health and well-being ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3200/3202
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Health Sciences
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Norwich Institute for Healthy Aging
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Behavioural and Implementation Science
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Promotion
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Lifespan Health
Related URLs:
Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 22 Jul 2020 02:46
Last Modified: 19 Oct 2023 02:43
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/76218
DOI: 10.1111/bjhp.12463

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