In a recent study published in BMC Public Health, researchers performed a systematic-type review to guage the efficacy of behavior change interventions (BCIs) for smoking cessation in pregnant couples and recent parents using a gendered lens.

Smoking cessation is an important strategy for expecting males, offering significant health advantages. Nevertheless, partners are less more likely to seek cessation treatments in comparison with pregnant or postpartum females.

Personalized programs are increasingly recognized for brand new and expecting fathers. BCIs are a promising strategy; nonetheless, research on efficacy on this group is fragmented, limiting clear conclusions.

In regards to the study

In the current systematic review, researchers investigated the forms of effects that could be expected from behavior-change-focused smoking cessation couple- or individual-based interventions personalized to male partners of pregnant in addition to postpartum females.

The foremost goal was to analyze the efficacy of behavior change interventions for quitting smoking when administered to pregnant females and the husbands of recent moms (recent and expectant fathers).

The study’s secondary goal was to analyze different BCI methods to handle the smoking behavior of expecting and newly-turned fathers. Fathers were included in the brand new father group until their children were aged one 12 months.

In November 2021, peer-reviewed publications were present in eight databases [EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, JSTOR, Wiley Online Library, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, and APA PsycINFO], with no language, location, or date restrictions.

Moreover, reference lists from identified studies were cross-checked to seek out further relevant studies that weren’t picked up in the unique search.

Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the impact of behavior change interventions to quit smoking for brand new and expectant fathers, in addition to RCTs evaluating interventions on expecting females and recent moms (infants aged lower than one 12 months) with assistance to quit smoking for his or her partners, were considered.

Latest and expectant fathers who engaged in smoking in the course of the interventions were included within the studies, whatever the extent of their nicotine dependency, intention to stop, or preset mental and physical circumstances.

There have been no constraints on the mode, duration, or setting of the intervention. Two reviewers examined the papers and disagreements were addressed by discussion or consulting one other reviewer.

The included studies’ quality was assessed using Cochrane’s revised risk-of-bias (RoB2) technique. The study eliminated RCTs that solely reported substitutes or alternatives to smoking cigarettes [such as electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), electronic cigarettes, and cannabis]. Review articles were also omitted. Michie and Johnston’s definition was used to characterize BCIs.

Results

In total, 1,222 studies were initially identified, of which 213 duplicate records were eliminated. Further, 970 records were excluded after title and abstract screening, and the remaining 39 records underwent full-text screening.

Eight records were identified by reviewing the references of articles identified in the unique database search. In consequence, nine RCTs were considered for review, of which one and 6 records had high and low bias risks, respectively, and two had minor concerns.

Six of the nine records targeting males, two on couples, and one on women. All studies were generally done in healthcare settings corresponding to maternal-neonatal wellness centers, antenatal or prenatal health clinics, pediatric clinics, and concrete county and rural medical departments. The studies included a complete of 6,231 couples, including 2,663 recent parents and three,568 pregnant couples.

The definitions of BCI, intervention components, controls, and consequence measures varied throughout the included research. Booklets and self-help materials, telephone counseling, face-to-face therapy, and online or telephonic video or text-based counseling were among the many intervention delivery options. The length of the interventions ranged from one month to eight years.

The transtheoretical model of behavior change and the social cognitive theory were essentially the most regularly referred-to theories. The research interventions were informed by the AWARD (Ask, Warn, Advise, Refer, and Do It Again) paradigm, the health belief model, and the teachable moment model.

Within the studies, one to seven BCTs were utilized, with health-related data being essentially the most prevalent element, followed by social support and goal-setting outcomes.

All participating males smoked in current times, whereas participating moms included non-smokers, former smokers, and current smokers. Essentially the most prevalent primary consequence was the one-week point prevalence (PP) of not smoking. While male follow-up data differed between trials, the bulk reported biochemically validated quit rates at six months.

Most therapies had a useful impact on cessation results. Specifically, five of the six records reporting one-week PP because the research endpoint revealed favorable effects in abstinence rates compared to manage groups, while one reported a small change. In response to the information, sex-targeted therapies had the next possibility of manufacturing favorable smoking cessation outcomes.

Conclusions

Overall, the study findings showed that BCI interventions have shown promising ends in improving smoking cessation outcomes in expecting males. Nevertheless, more research is required to know the sex-based requirements while pregnant and the impact of gender on health-related behavior.

A holistic strategy ought to be implemented to supply gender-equitable services, considering each same- and different-sex partnerships. Engaging expecting fathers in health behavior interventions can provide a foundation for gender-specific tobacco control policies and practices. Taking gender variations into consideration can result in favorable cessation results.