Abstract
Tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) adversely affects child health. Intervention research on reducing childhood TSE and uptake of evidence-based smoking cessation programs has had limited reach in high-risk communities. Intervening in clinics delivering the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) could address overlapping public health priorities essential for healthy child development - nutrition and smoke-free environments. The Babies Living Safe and Smokefree (BLiSS) trial addresses existing gaps by implementing and evaluating a WIC in-clinic evidence-based training based on Ask, Advise, and Refer (AAR) guidelines. WIC nutrition staff (n = 67) completed surveys pre- and post-training as part of the larger BLiSS trial. Staff sociodemographic data, knowledge, and attitudes about maternal smoking and child TSE prevention, and AAR practices in clinic were collected using self-administered surveys. Pre-post outcomes were assessed using bivariate statistics and multiple regression models. Controlling for baseline AAR-related practices and other covariates, nutrition managers were more likely to engage in post-training AAR practices than nutrition assistants. Sociodemographics and smoking status were not related to post-training AAR. Lower perceived barriers and higher reported frequency of tobacco intervention practices at baseline were associated with higher engagement in post-test AAR practices. WIC-system interventions aimed at reducing child TSE and maternal tobacco smoking may be more effective if nutrition management-level staff are involved in assessment and by addressing barriers related to TSE among nutrition assistants. Findings suggest that WIC in-clinic training may help to increase self-efficacy for staff engagement in brief screening, intervention, and referral practices.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 57-63 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Translational Behavioral Medicine |
Volume | 13 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 1 2023 |
Keywords
- Child
- Child Health
- Female
- Humans
- Nicotiana
- Parents/education
- Primary Health Care
- Smoking Cessation