Lesson learnt | Evidence from LEAP trial | Implication for future research and practice |
---|---|---|
1) Text messaging | Effective form of communicating, convenient and cost-effective. | Include text messaging as a means of communicating with participants. |
2) Pedometers | Women enjoyed wearing them particularly because they could see the immediate results. | Use ‘gadgets’ that are simple to use yet effective and empowering for participants. |
3) Financial incentives | Facilitated intervention attendance particularly amongst women from deprived backgrounds. | Identify a way of easing financial burden (i.e. travel costs) on women to enable them to attend sessions. Conduct further research on financial incentives for smoking cessation. |
4) Intensity of exercise | Researchers were hesitant to encourage women to exercise at higher intensities and not certain how to adapt exercise for different stages of pregnancy. | Current guidelines suggest there is no need to adapt exercise for pregnant women with no medical or obstetric complications; consider revising guidelines. |
5) Frequency of visits is too high | Face-to-face support may need to be combined with self-help strategies. | Research is needed to determine how effective this self-help support is for promoting exercise in pregnancy. |
6) Training needs | Targeted training would have been beneficial. | Include more and specific information on (i) how to talk to teenagers about smoking, (ii) how to deal with deprivation related issues drug/alcohol abuse, (iii) family/friend/partner presence in session, (iv) stage of pregnancy, (v) preventing postpartum return to smoking. |