Abstract

Electronic cigarettes are rapidly becoming the most common form of nicotine replacement therapy, but their long-term effects are still unknown, especially surrounding effects on a foetus. Currently, organisations such as Public Health England and the Royal College of Midwives support the use of electronic cigarettes during pregnancy, as they are deemed a safer alternative to conventional cigarette smoking. The defining purpose of this research was to explore the knowledge and attitudes held by midwives regarding electronic cigarette use in pregnancy, and whether this affected their likelihood of recommendation as a smoking cessation strategy. Midwives were chosen as they have most likely had the most frequent contact with pregnant smokers, and their roles encompass a strong element of health promotion. This is important as professional bodies such as the Royal College of Midwives recommend electronic cigarettes as a smoking cessation strategy in pregnancy; a very recent development in midwifery practice