A qualitative assessment of the perceived risks of electronic cigarette and hookah use in pregnancy

BMC Public Health

Research Article

Angela L. Stotts¹  Thomas F. Northrup¹  Joan Mastrobattista²  Shannon Padgett²  Susan S. Xie²  Melissa A. Suter²  Pablo J. Gonzalez²  Maike K. Kahr²  Judy Levison²  Kjersti M. Aagaard²  Emily N. Griffin²  Cindy D. Shope²  Adi R. Abramovici³ 

[1] Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin Street, JJL 324, 77030, Houston, TX, USA;Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, 77030, Houston, TX, USA;Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, 6431 Fannin Street, 77030, Houston, TX, USA;

关键词: Electronic cigarettes;    E-cigarettes;    E-cig;    Hookah;    Focus group;    Pregnancy;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-015-2586-4

 received in 2015-06-04, accepted in 2015-12-08,  发布年份 2015

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundStudies reveal that electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) and hookah use are increasing among adolescents and young adults. However, the long-term health effects are unknown, especially with regards to pregnancy. Because of the increased use in women of reproductive age, and the unknown long-term health risks, our primary objectives were to determine the perceived risks of e-cigarette and hookah use in pregnancy, and learn common colloquial terms associated with e-cigarettes. Furthermore, we sought to determine if there is a stigma associated with e-cigarette use in pregnancy.MethodsEleven focus groups including 87 participants were conducted immediately following regularly scheduled CenteringPregnancy® prenatal care with women at three different clinics in the greater Houston area. A minimum of two facilitators led the groups, using ten lead-in prompts, with Spanish translation as necessary. Facilitators took notes which were compared immediately following each group discussion and each group was audio recorded and transcribed. Three facilitators utilized NVivo 9.0 software to organize the transcribed data into nodes to identify major themes. To increase rigor, transcripts were further analyzed by two obstetricians who were instructed to find the major themes.ResultsAnalyses revealed contradicting themes concerning e-cigarette use. In general, e-cigarettes were perceived as safer alternatives to regular tobacco cigarettes, especially if used as smoking cessation devices. A major theme is that use in pregnancy is harmful to the fetus. However, it was perceived that use for smoking cessation in pregnancy may have fewer side effects. We found that a common term for e-cigarettes is “Blu.” In our discussion of hookah use, participants perceived use as popular among teenagers and that use in pregnancy is dangerous for the fetus.ConclusionsAlthough a strong theme emerged against hookah use, we found contradicting themes in our discussions on e-cigarette use in pregnancy. It is possible that e-cigarette use will not carry the same stigma as regular cigarette smoking in pregnancy. In addition, the impression of e-cigarettes as a healthier alternative to smoking may influence use in pregnancy. Clinicians need to be prepared for questions of e-cigarette safety and efficacy as smoking cessation devices from their pregnant patients who smoke, and women who smoke and are planning to become pregnant.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Kahr et al. 2015