SmokeFree Families

Smoke-Free Families Prenatal Demonstration Projects are putting best-practice interventions to work in a variety of prenatal care settings – in Oregon’s state health department, at a large integrated health plan in Maine, and a medical association in Oklahoma.

These systems-level interventions are working to incorporate smoking cessation services across large provider networks. Research has proven that traditional methods of clinical guideline implementation, such as mailing guidelines and conducting trainings, rarely result in provider behavior change. Targeting various areas of the health care delivery system, however, holds more promise for creating an environment in which providers are supported in their efforts to screen and treat their pregnant clients who smoke.

Collaborative Demonstration Projects are underway to implement innovative quality improvement models that have proven to be successful in addressing chronic illnesses and other health care issues. In each of the three demonstration projects, the National Dissemination Office is interested in identifying which components of the health care delivery system need to be modified and improved so that screening and treatment of pregnant smokers become incorporated into routine practice. Standardized evaluation tools modified from the Chronic Care Model will be used so that outcomes and process data can be analyzed across sites.

Grantee Organizations

• Oregon Division of Human Services, Health Services, Office of Family Health Services. Donalda Dodson, PI
  
  The Oregon Smoke-Free Mothers and Babies project has recruited ten counties to participate in their initiative, which is based in their maternity case management model. They are creating a coordinated system of care among case managers, prenatal providers, and a quitline through outreach and training, standardized documentation procedures, and a fax referral system.

  
  Find out more here.
• Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Maine Medical Center. Susan Swartz, PI
  
  The Maine Prenatal Collaborative is recruiting physician practices that are members of the MaineHealth System. They are using a group learning process among provider practices to raise clinician self-efficacy, promote a team approach, and use patient self-management tools.
  
  Find out more here.
• Oklahoma State Medical Association, Joy Leuthard, PI
  
  The Smoke-Free Beginnings project is recruiting practices that participate in the Oklahoma Physician’s Research Network. They are adapting an academic detailing model by assigning Physician Enhancement Assistants to train providers on-site and develop new office systems.
  
  Find out more here.