Reducing Smoking during Pregnancy: Mobilizing Capacity and Training of Health Professionals

Smoking during pregnancy is the most serious and preventable cause of infant and fetal morbidity and mortality, and has enormous economic and societal costs.  Although the District of Columbia has an approved Medicaid plan to implement smoking cessation coverage for pregnant women, no comprehensive smoking cessation services are available for low-income pregnant smokers in the metropolitan area.  This project aims to close this health disparities gap by training healthcare providers working in federally qualified health centers to implement an award-winning, evidence-based smoking cessation program as part of routine prenatal care.  The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE), in partnership with Community of Hope and the DC Strong Start-funded partners, will implement and evaluate SOPHE’s Smoking Cessation and Reduction in Pregnancy Treatment (SCRIPT®) patient education program and the “Adopting SCRIPT® in Your Organization” framework.   A local independent researcher will collect and analyze process and impact evaluation data, including data documenting policy and systems changes made by the healthcare sites to support sustainable, high-quality smoking cessation services.  SOPHE will provide in-kind contributions of SCRIPT® patient guides and DVDs, and leverage its existing grant funding to provide carbon monoxide monitors to SCRIPT® healthcare intervention sites. Technical assistance will be provided through conference calls, newsletters, webinars and social media.  SOPHE’s capacity includes its experienced training staff as the nation’s sole SCRIPT® provider, its 65-year legacy of science-based health education research and practice, multiple outlets for project dissemination, expertise in catalyzing tobacco policy and environmental changes, and its commitment to health equity.