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Objectives. To examine whether, as predicted by the transtheoretical model (TTM), stage-matched interventions will be more effective than stage-mismatched interventions. Design. Randomized controlled trial of smoking cessation advice to pregnant smokers. Methods. Pregnant women currently smoking at 12 weeks gestation were enrolled in a pragmatic three-arm trial of TTM-based interventions to help them stop smoking. One arm constituted standard midwifery advice and a self-help leaflet on stopping smoking, which is generally appropriate for women in preparation. Two arms were TTM-based. Differences in positive movement in stage towards quitting from enrolment to 30 weeks gestation and 10 days post-partum were calculated for each arm of the trial. We then examined whether, as predicted from the TTM, the relative benefit of the TTM-based intervention was greater for women in precontemplation and contemplation, for whom the control intervention was stage-mismatched, than for women in preparation, for whom the control intervention was stage-matched. Results. Women in the TTM-based arms were statistically significantly more likely to move forward in stage than were women in the control arm. Contrary to the TTM-derived hypothesis, the greater relative benefit of the TTM-based intervention was seen for women in preparation stage at baseline, rather than women in precontemplation and contemplation. Conclusions. The TTM-based intervention was more effective in stage movement, but this could be due to its greater intensity. The failure to confirm that stage-matching was important casts doubt on the validity of the TTM in explaining smoking cessation behaviour in pregnancy. © 2006 The British Psychological Society.

Original publication

DOI

10.1348/135910705X52534

Type

Journal article

Journal

British Journal of Health Psychology

Publication Date

01/05/2006

Volume

11

Pages

263 - 278