A Holistic Approach to Reducing Tobacco Use Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women

Our previous March of Dimes funded study identified many women with high levels of stress and anxiety. In addition to being a risk factor for pre-term birth, stress and anxiety are commonly reported barriers to smoking cessation. Several participants reported smoking as their only coping mechanism for stress. To enhance this smoking cessation services offered to pregnant and postpartum women, we propose to work with Jennifer Bradley, Jin Shin Jyutsu Coordinator with University of Kentucky Integrative Medicine and Health, to integrate Jin Shin Jyutsu Self Help for Smoking Cessation biweekly into our group tobacco treatment sessions. Jin Shin Jyutsu is an evidence based Eastern medicine practice similar to acupuncture and acupressure that reduces anxiety, pain and stress through the use of light touch. This practice has the added benefit that mothers can learn to perform this technique on themselves to decrease anxiety and reduce cigarette cravings, as well as to comfort their infants. We will conduct a series of focus groups to evaluate acceptability and perceived efficacy of Jin Shin Jyutsu for stress and smoking cessation with clients who participate in the service. Further, we will assess perceived stress levels, anxiety, and smoking related variables (e.g, cigarettes per day, nicotine dependence, and cigarette cravings), as well as expired carbon monoxide (to validate smoking cessation).