Adapting text4FATHER to Directly Link to First-time Expectant Fathers Using Social Media to Improve Infant and Family Health
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Fathers
- Sponsor
- Johns Hopkins University
- Enrollment
- 180
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Karitane Parenting Confidence Scale (KPCS)
- Status
- Recruiting
- Last Updated
- 7 months ago
Overview
Brief Summary
This project will be the first to examine the efficacy of a text messaging intervention designed to recruit first-time fathers-to-be using social media across the U.S. to become involved during pregnancy through two months of postnatal age to support infant, mother, and father well-being.
Detailed Description
Father engagement in the prenatal and infant periods is associated with improved infant outcomes (e.g., physical, social and emotional health and development), and mother and father well-being. However, this key window of opportunity has been insufficiently leveraged to promote father engagement, especially, first-time fathers-to-be. text4FATHER, a multi-modal text messaging program, is designed to increase first-time fathers' knowledge, self-efficacy, and behavioral engagement. text4FATHER sends texts twice-weekly to fathers with threaded content to support infant, partner, and father well-being including resource weblinks to support behavior change from mid-pregnancy through 2 months postnatally. Text content was developed using formative research and feedback from the target population, consensus building with experts, and an evidence-based review.
Investigators
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Aged ≥18 years
- •Live in the U.S.
- •Speak English
- •Mother gestational age at enrollment less than 25 weeks
- •First-time father-to-be
- •Willing/able to receive texts.
Exclusion Criteria
- •Individuals who are minors
- •Do not speak English
- •Unable to provide informed consent
- •Not a first-time father
- •Not willing/unable to receive texts
- •In the past 12 months, any safety concern reported between father-to-be and the mother-to-be, including report of any physical, emotional, sexual harm, threatening behaviors, police involvement, restraining or protective order
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Karitane Parenting Confidence Scale (KPCS)
Time Frame: Baseline and 7 months
Self-report measure with higher score indicating greater confidence in infant care behaviors. This measure is scaled with range from 0 (no, hardly ever) to 3 (yes, most times). Mean range 0-3.
Father Engagement Scale (FES)
Time Frame: Baseline and 7 months
Self-report measure with higher score indicating greater degree of father engagement in infant care activities. This measure is scaled with range from 0 (never) to 4 (every day or almost every day). Mean range 0-4.
Change in Self-efficacy as assessed by the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale (PSOC)
Time Frame: Baseline and 7 months
Self-report measure with higher score indicating greater confidence in overall parenting skills. This measure is scaled with range from 1 (low) to 6 (high). Mean range 1-6.