Using nicotine replacement therapy for smoking reduction in pregnancy: A qualitative study of pregnant women in the UK who smoke

Thomson, Ross, Phillips, Lucy, Orton, Sophie, Naughton, Felix and Coleman, Tim (2024) Using nicotine replacement therapy for smoking reduction in pregnancy: A qualitative study of pregnant women in the UK who smoke. BMJ Open, 14 (8). ISSN 2044-6055

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Abstract

Objectives To explore the acceptability and perceived motivations and barriers of using nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to reduce the number of daily cigarettes smoked in pregnancy, rather than for stopping completely. Design Telephone, semi-structured interviews, audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analysed using an inductive thematic analysis. Participants Eighteen pregnant women in the UK, who were smoking or had recently stopped smoking, were recruited. Results Half of interviewees reported having used NRT to reduce smoking during their current pregnancy, and there was overwhelming support for the UK National Health Service to recognise this as a potentially useful way to use these products. The cost and stigma associated with purchasing NRT products when pregnant were seen as barriers to using NRT in this way. The early offer of NRT for reduction along with a tailored, structured approach to support was seen as important. Conclusions Using NRT to help women, who are unable to stop smoking, to reduce their smoking may be acceptable to pregnant women. This study found women were already using NRT alongside ad hoc strategies to reduce their smoking. Further research evaluating structured smoking reduction support, alongside concurrent NRT use is needed.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Data availability statement: Data are available upon reasonable request. The data analysed during the current study are not publicly available but anonymised transcripts are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Funding information: This study/project is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) School for Primary Care Research (project reference 524). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	behavior,pregnant women,primary care,public health,qualitative research,medicine(all) ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2700
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 Centres > Lifespan Health Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Behavioural and Implementation Science Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Promotion
Related URLs:	http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?...
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	08 Oct 2024 13:30
Last Modified:	17 Oct 2024 00:30
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/96945
DOI:	10.1136/bmjopen-2024-085945

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