Reducing Environmental Tobacco Smoke in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Infants' Homes

Summary

This study is about reducing the risks of smoke-related infant health problems. Research has shown that infants exposed to secondary smoke have higher risks of delayed lung development, respiratory illnesses, wheeze, cough, asthma, middle ear disease, and sudden infant death syndrome. Infants who have experienced low birth weight or required mechanical ventilation may be at an even greater risk for the negative effects of smoking. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a 3-session program aimed at assisting the primary care giver in reducing risks to their child's health by decreasing infant smoke exposure in their home and/or reducing overall cigarette use.

Caregivers will not be required to quit smoking to take part in this program. This information will, in the future, help to identify and improve ways of reducing health problems and perhaps death in children.

Conditions

• Infant Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Motivational Interviewing intervention

Those randomized to receive the Motivational Interviewing intervention will meet twice over a two-week period with a trained counselor while visiting the neonatal intensive care unit. Each visit will consist of a 45 minute session in which household smoking practices will be assessed and discussed. Two weeks after the child has been discharged from the hospital, the counselor will contact participants via telephone for a third 20-30 minute telephone meeting. After the third contact with the counselor, a letter will be mailed to participants summarizing information covered in the three meetings.

BEHAVIORAL

Usual Care

Those randomized to receive the Usual Care intervention will receive written information on secondary smoke and infant health and will be assessed at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months post-intervention.

BEHAVIORAL

Usual Care - Reduced Measurement

Those randomized to the Usual Care - Reduced Measurement intervention will receive the same written information on secondary smoke and infant health as the Usual Care intervention but will be assessed only at the 6-month timepoint.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• HRSA/Maternal and Child Health Bureau

  collaborator FED

• The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Angela L Stotts, Ph.D. · The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

12 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2008-05-31

Primary Completion

2011-11-30

Completion

2011-11-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations