SmokefreeMOM: Reaching Pregnant Smokers With Health Information Via Text Messaging

Despite the great health benefits associated with smoking cessation in pregnancy to both
mother and baby, few studies to date have examined the applications of text messaging or
other communication technologies for smoking cessation in this population. This project is
the first step in developing a new dissemination strategy for reaching pregnant smokers.
This research will explore how a state-of -the-art, interactive and intensive, text
messaging program, SmokefreeMoms Text, can promote smoking cessation in pregnant smokers.
This program may have the potential to reach pregnant smokers who are not currently being
reached with traditional smoking cessation services. The study Aims are: 1) to elicit
qualitative feedback from pregnant smokers and recent quitters (in the past month) about the
concept of SmokefreeMoms, the proposed message protocols in SmokefreeMoms, and the proposed
messages in SmokefreeMoms (Phase 1); 2) To develop and pilot test a prototype of
SmokefreeMoms which is consistent with Clinical Practice Guidelines (Phase 2), and 3) To
conduct a formative evaluation of SmokefreeMoms 1.0 with pregnant smokers and recent
quitters (Phase 3). 4) To measure the likelihood that pregnant women who smoke cigarettes
will join an SMS program by responding to different types of recruitment messages.