Financial Incentives for Preventing Postpartum return to smoking V1

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Financial Incentives for Preventing Postpartum return to smoking: the FIPPS feasibility trial

  • IRAS ID

    255084

  • Contact name

    Michael Ussher

  • Contact email

    mussher@sgul.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Stirling

  • ISRCTN Number

    ISRCTN55218215

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    2 years, 11 months, 31 days

  • Research summary

    Most women who stop smoking during pregnancy are likely to start smoking again within 12 months of their baby's birth. There is no evidence to indicate what would be effective in preventing such high rates of return to smoking. This research will examine whether financial incentives, in the form of shopping vouchers, provided after birth may help women to avoid a return to smoking.
    The trial will recruit approximately 900 women at the end of their pregnancy who are confirmed as having stopped smoking durng pregnancy. Eligible women will be invited to participate by stop smoking advisers working in four NHS hospital trusts in Greater Manchester, and once consented will have an equal chance of being allocated to one of three trial groups.
    To examine whether financial incentives can support avoidance of smoking in the postpartum period, one group of women will receive no incentives, a second group will be offered incentives up to three months postpartum(£60) and a third group will be offered incentives up to twelve months postpartum(£240. Payment of shopping vouchers in both groups at key points will be based on self-report of not smoking a single puff of a cigarette since the birth and confirmation of their non-smoking status via a breath test of carbon monoxide (CO) levels. Participants in incentive groups will also have the option of involving a ‘Significant Other Supporter’ who will be offered £60 based on confirmation of their and the participant’s smoke free status at relevant points.
    Assessment of the impact of using financial incentives will examine all participants smoking status at 3 and 12 months. Interviews with participants and a focus group with stop smoking advisers will consider experiences of and views on the incentives intervention and trial processes.

  • REC name

    North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    18/NW/0838

  • Date of REC Opinion

    11 Jan 2019

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion