Table 1 Components of 5A-QUIT-N intervention

Ask

 Professionals ask about patient’s smoking status (consumption prior to pregnancy, changes in consumption since pregnancy and current consumption)

Advise

 Professionals in contact with pregnant women systematically advise their patients to stop smoking

 Professionals are careful not to make moral judgements about the pregnant woman's tobacco consumption to avoid making her feel guilty

 Professionals point out that quitting smoking may require medical care from a professional

 Professionals do not bring up the unborn child: it is up to the pregnant woman to talk about it if she wishes

Assess

 Professionals assess severity of addiction (e.g. when evaluating patient for an NRT prescription or deciding whether to refer to a specialist)

 Professionals assess vulnerability factors of pregnant woman (psychiatric, addictive (due to co-consumption), clinical and social factors)

 Professionals assess pregnant woman's motivation to quit smoking

 Professionals ask pregnant woman if she is considering quitting smoking

 Professionals assess whether they are able to support pregnant woman

Assist

 Professionals accompany pregnant woman in her choice of weaning strategy

 Professionals use motivational interviewing or equivalent methods

 Professionals integrate the entourage due to importance of social support in success of smoking cessation

 Professionals help pregnant woman to identify sources of support within her environment

 Professionals systematically provide information on aids available, their effectiveness, their advantages and disadvantages and how to use each aid, through a simple mediation tool

Arrange

 Professionals organise regular follow-up visits for support during attempt to quit