Addressing the barriers faced by midwives when discussing stop smoking issues with pregnant women
Author(s)
Martyn Willmore and Jane Beenstock
Presenter(s)
Martyn Willmore Performance Improvement Delivery Manager, Fresh Smoke Free North East, Chester Le Street
Abstract
In early 2011, Fresh SFNE (in collaboration with Newcastle University and FUSE - The NE centre for translational research in Public Health) undertook a piece of research around smoking in pregnancy. All North East midwives were sent a questionnaire designed to unpick midwives` beliefs, skills and knowledge around the subject of smoking and, specifically, their role in helping pregnant women to quit.
Over 500 midwives from a variety of localities responded to the questionnaire. This amounts to over 40% of the midwives currently working in the NE. The questionnaire was constructed using the behaviours outlined in NICE Guidance PH26, and focussed around four key activities -
- How to ask about smoking status
- How to give stop smoking advice
- How to use a CO monitor
- How to refer into NHS SSS
These questions were then further broken down into eleven "domains" of behaviour, which reflect how midwives responded to these questions in terms of emotions, skills, knowledge, beliefs, etc.
Results from the survey are to be disseminated to midwives at a regional event in March, and will form the basis of ongoing work throughout 2011, as we aim to help address the issues identified through access to training/resources, etc
Source of funding: Project jointly funded through NE SHA and Fresh Smoke Free North East
