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Table 1 “5 A’s” Intervention

From: Tobacco cessation intervention for pregnant women in Argentina and Uruguay: study protocol

Step 1: ASK

Ask the patient about her smoking status:

 A. I have NEVER smoked, or I have smoked less than 100 cigarettes in my lifetime.

 B. I stopped smoking BEFORE I found out I was pregnant, and I am not smoking now.

 C. I stopped smoking AFTER I found out I was pregnant, and I am not smoking now.

 D. I smoke some now, but I cut down on the number of cigarettes I smoke SINCE I found out I was pregnant.

 E. I smoke regularly now, about the same as BEFORE I found out I was pregnant.

Step 2: ADVISE

Provide clear, strong advice to quit with personalized messages about the impact of smoking and quitting on the mother and fetus.

Step 3: ASSESS

Assess the willingness of the patient to make a quit attempt within the next 30 days.

Step 4: ASSIST

 - Provide pregnancy-specific, self-help smoking cessation materials.

 - Suggest and encourage the use of problem solving methods and skills for cessation.

 - Arrange social support in the smoker’s environment.

 - Provide social support as part of the treatment.

Step 5: ARRANGE

 - Periodically assess smoking status and, if she is a continuing smoker, encourage cessation.