New study finds financial incentives to help pregnant women stop smoking are highly cost-effective

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-11/w-nsf110915.php

Public Release: 12-Nov-2015
New study finds financial incentives to help pregnant women stop smoking are highly cost-effective
Wiley

The scientific journal Addiction has today published the first cost-effectiveness analysis of financial incentives to help pregnant women stop smoking. The report found that financial incentives are highly cost-effective, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of £482 ($734) per quality-adjusted life year (QALY), which is well below recommended thresholds in high income countries.

Smoking during pregnancy is among the leading preventable causes of morbidity and death amongst pregnant women and their babies. In some countries, a range of services exist to help pregnant smokers quit, but engagement with services is low. It has been found that financial incentives can increase engagement with stop-smoking services and improve the chances of quitting, but commentators have been concerned about whether the benefits are worth the financial outlay.

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The women offered financial incentives quit smoking at a much higher rate than those not offered incentives (22.5% versus 8.6%), and their self-reported relapse rates 6 months postpartum were also lower (33% versus 54%).

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