Helping pregnant women quit smoking through clinician training and text messages

Baby Steps III: Testing a Clinician and Patient Intervention to Promote Smoking Cessation Among Pregnant Women

NA · Duke University · NCT04985903

This study is testing if training doctors and sending text messages can help pregnant women quit smoking more successfully.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment840 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorDuke University (other)
Locations1 site (Durham, North Carolina)
Trial IDNCT04985903 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to improve smoking cessation rates among pregnant women by implementing a combined intervention that includes SMS support messages for patients and tailored training for obstetric clinicians. The study will involve a cluster randomized controlled design, where 70 OB clinicians will be assigned to either an intervention or control group. Patients will receive smoking cessation support throughout their pregnancy, and the effectiveness of the intervention will be evaluated through audio recordings of clinician-patient interactions and patient surveys. The goal is to assess the impact of enhanced clinician communication skills on patient smoking cessation outcomes.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are pregnant women aged 18 and older who smoke and are receiving prenatal care from participating OB clinicians.

Not a fit: Patients who do not speak or read English may not benefit from this study due to the language requirements for participation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly increase smoking cessation rates among pregnant women, leading to healthier pregnancies and improved outcomes for both mothers and infants.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown success with similar interventions that combine clinician training and patient support, indicating a promising approach to smoking cessation.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* ≥18 years old
* Receiving prenatal care from an enrolled OB clinician
* Self-report smoking tobacco at their first OB visit
* Access to a cell phone with texting capabilities

Exclusion Criteria:

* Unable to speak and read English

Where this trial is running

Durham, North Carolina

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Smoking Cessation, Pregnancy, Communication Research, Pregnant smokers

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.