An NHS research team who are taking part in a special smoking-related national trial involving pregnant women have recruited the study’s 500th participant.
The obstetrics and gynaecology research team at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust is part of a trial investigating whether enhanced smoking cessation support is better than standard support.
The study called SNAP-3 study is looking at whether pregnant women who do nicotine preloading – starting nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) before the quit date, while gradually reducing the amount of cigarettes smoked – could stop smoking more successfully.
Research associate practitioner Vicky Collins, who is the Trust’s lead for the study, said: “I want to thank everyone who has agreed to be a part of the study.
“Women have been happy so far for us to contact them about the study and we have been recruiting from both of our hospital sites, which is fantastic.
“We are looking forward to seeing what impact it can have for our women in the future.”
These ways will include NRT use for preloading before the quit date, NRT use in recovery from brief lapses to smoking and NRT use for smoking reduction.
The intervention will be delivered alongside routine support from the Trust’s tobacco dependency service.
Proud achievement
Sharon Gowans, research midwife and principal investigator for the study at the Trust added: “Thanks to Vicky and the community maternity team, we are proud to have recruited the 500th woman to this national study.
“Being involved in this trial will help all of our women, by providing added support over their pregnancy and could lead to improved treatment to those looking to successfully quit smoking.”
The study is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research – Health Technology Assessment and led by the University of Nottingham.
As part of No Smoking Day this month, the trust has highlighted the support its tobacco dependency service also provides to any patients or staff members who need it.