TDNet Discover

Prenatal smoking rates have tripled in Tennessee in comparison to those in the United States despite an abundant amount of resources available and a negative cultural stigma surrounding smoking during pregnancy. Many various smoking cessation resources such as counseling and medications are available, yet physicians are failing to properly educate patients in order to cultivate change. As evidenced by the failing grade given by the Women’s Health Report Card Department of Tennessee, there is an apparent need for intervention to ensure smoking cessation rates increase (Humphrey, 2013). Research confirms that implementing additional education regarding the negative effects of tobacco smoke in mothers during routine prenatal visits will decrease pregnancy smoking rates. The conclusions drawn from this previous research was utilized in order to curate a brochure targeting the apparent deficit in smoking cessation education in rural east Tennessee. The purpose of the brochure was to serve as a supplement to clinicians for informing mothers who otherwise may not have been educated on the potentially fatal effects of smoking. Five clinics in rural Appalachia were each provided with twenty educational brochures to be used for a minimum of four weeks. Results demonstrated that implementing the brochure did in fact facilitate an increased amount of conversations between the patient and provider centered around smoking cessation. Overall, it was concluded that providing a physical smoking cessation tool to clinicians in rural areas increased education and therefore had a positive impact on the likelihood of decreased cigarette use in this patient population.