More Pregnant Smokers Quit If Paid
More Pregnant Smokers Quit If Paid – Researchers claim giving pregnant smokers financial incentives to quit is a cost-effective way of easing pressure on the NAtional Health Service (NHS).
Smoking during pregnancy costs the NHS millions of pounds and figures suggest 5,000 fetuses and babies die every year as a result of mums smoking during pregnancy. But a new study suggests financial incentives, in the form of shopping vouchers, can motivate pregnant women to quit the habit.
Researchers at the University of Glasgow and the University of Stirling used 612 pregnant smokers. They were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Half were assigned to a group offered up to £400 of financial incentives if they took part in sessions aimed at helping them quit or actually gave up. The other half were just offered places on help groups and a face-to-face appointment with a smoking cessation adviser, for follow-up support calls and free nicotine replacement therapy for 10 weeks.
Women who were offered shopping vouchers were significantly more likely to quit smoking at 23% than those in the control group at 9%.
Category: News Videos, Videos
