The use of significant reduction rates to evaluate health education methods for pregnant smokers: A new harm reduction behavioral indicator?

Richard A. Windsor, Chang Qing Li, Neal Richard Boyd, Katherine E. Hartmann

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

This article evaluates the evidence to support the use of biochemical measurement of significant reduction (SR) rates among pregnant smokers as a new behavioral indicator of "harm reduction" (HR). The results of four studies - three randomized patient education clinical trials of pregnant smokers (Trials I, II, and III) and an epidemiological study (Study IV) - are presented. Among Trial I, II, and III cohorts of pregnant smokers, control group SR rates of 7% (I), 9% (II), and 20% (III) were increased among experimental groups to 17% (I), 18% (II), and 32% (III) by the same patient education methods. Analyses of infant birthweight data in Study IV found that a patient SR rate representing a 50% or more decrease between a baseline and follow-up test was associated with an increase in adjusted birthweight of 92 grams.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)648-662
Number of pages15
JournalHealth Education and Behavior
Volume26
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1999

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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