Improving Women's Health Through Coordinated Postpartum Planning
- Conditions
- Maternal DeathMaternal Morbidity
- Interventions
- Behavioral: Enhanced Postpartum Care System
- Registration Number
- NCT05430815
- Lead Sponsor
- Emory University
- Brief Summary
The purpose of the study is to design, implement, and evaluate a holistic postpartum women's health care system for women who have cardiovascular risk factors for severe maternal morbidity (SMM) including chronic hypertension, chronic diabetes, gestational diabetes, pre-pregnancy obesity, or a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP) which includes gestational hypertension or preeclampsia. The researchers will use a sequential mixed methods design. First, the researchers will conduct in-depth interviews with women who have given birth in the prior year to characterize barriers and facilitators to accessing postpartum care. The information from these interviews will be used to inform the design of a postpartum care system. Next, the researchers will conduct a pragmatic randomized trial to test the effectiveness of the system on postpartum care engagement versus standard of care.
- Detailed Description
The US maternal mortality ratio is the highest among developed nations at 26.4 maternal deaths per 100,000 livebirths. Among the states, Georgia has the second highest maternal mortality (66.3 per 100,000), with a 60% higher rate for black vs white women (95.6 vs 59.7 per 100,000). Nearly 100 times more common than maternal mortality is severe maternal morbidity (SMM), defined as unexpected outcomes of labor and delivery that result in short- and long-term deleterious health consequences. Maternal mortality and SMM are highest among women who are black, publicly insured or uninsured, and deliver in safety-net hospitals. In Georgia, 66% of maternal deaths occur to women insured by Medicaid at delivery and the majority of deaths and SMM occur postpartum, a time during which healthcare visits are poorly attended and oftentimes inaccessible. The Georgia Maternal Mortality Review Committee concluded that two-thirds of maternal deaths are preventable, with chronic health conditions, obesity, delays in accessing and fragmentation of care as key contributors. As solutions, it recommends improved prenatal and postpartum follow-up and case management, control of chronic health conditions, and extension of Medicaid coverage beyond 60 days postpartum.
While the postpartum period represents a crucial window of opportunity for promoting women's current and future health, up to 40% of US women do not attend postpartum visits due to structural barriers (e.g., lack of insurance, transportation or childcare) social barriers (e.g., medical mistrust and poor patient-provider relationships) or low perceived utility of postpartum care. Moreover, the lowest rates of postpartum care utilization are concentrated among women with the highest rates of pregnancy complications and chronic conditions (e.g., women who are uninsured or Medicaid-insured, low-income, and non-Hispanic black). Timely and adequate use of postpartum care is especially important for women with diabetes or hypertensive disease as these conditions are associated with increased risk for postpartum morbidity and mortality and cardiovascular disease later in life.
The researchers of this study plan to conduct an intervention study to assess the effect of a woman-centered, comprehensive postpartum care system on postpartum visit attendance and follow-up care among medically underserved women with chronic diabetes, chronic hypertension, gestational diabetes, pre-pregnancy obesity or hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP). Because implementing and sustaining a comprehensive postpartum care system in a health disparities population requires a thorough understanding of patient preferences regarding the structural and process elements of care, methods of provider-patient communication, and strategies for addressing social and contextual barriers to care the researchers will use in-depth interviews to inform the intervention design and then assess health outcomes and satisfaction.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
- Sex
- Female
- Target Recruitment
- 320
- pregnant women between 20-34 weeks of gestation
- have received 1 or more prenatal care visits at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia (GA)
- intend to deliver at Grady Memorial Hospital
- speak English or Spanish
- have a diagnosis of chronic diabetes, chronic hypertension, gestational diabetes, pre-pregnancy obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 or greater), and/or a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (gestational hypertension or preeclampsia) documented in the electronic medical record (EMR)
- adults unable to consent, infants, and prisoners
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Enhanced Postpartum Care System Enhanced Postpartum Care System Women with a documented diagnosis of chronic diabetes, chronic hypertension, gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (gestational hypertension or preeclampsia), or pre-pregnancy obesity who are randomized to receive enhanced postpartum care.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Number of participants attending the postpartum visit 12 weeks after delivery The postpartum visit occurs between 4 and 12 weeks after delivery. Postpartum visit attendance will be identified using data from medical records.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Number of Participants Receiving Postpartum Hypertension Screening 12 weeks after delivery Whether or not a participant received the recommended early postpartum screening for hypertension through blood pressure measurement will be evaluated.
Change in Number of Participants with Ongoing Pregnancy Complications 12 weeks after delivery, 14 months after delivery Ongoing complications from pregnancy (including SMM) will be evaluated.
Change in Number of Participants Readmitted to the Hospital 12 weeks after delivery, 14 months after delivery Participants will be asked if they have had any medical complications resulting in hospital readmission since the birth of their baby.
Number of Participants Receiving Postpartum Diabetes Screening 12 weeks after delivery Whether or not a participant received the recommended early postpartum screening for diabetes through glucose testing will be evaluated.
Change in Number of Participants Using Contraception 12 weeks after delivery, 14 months after delivery The number of participants using contraception will be evaluated.
Change in Number of Participants Using Medication 12 weeks after delivery, 14 months after delivery The number of participants using prescription medication for chronic conditions will be evaluated.
Perceived Risk of Severe Maternal Morbidity (SMM) 12 weeks after delivery Future severe maternal morbidity risk perception is assessed with a single question asking participants if they think they are at higher or lower risk of having a serious pregnancy complication during a future pregnancy compared to other women of the same age. Responses are given on a 3-point scale where 1 = low risk and 3 = high risk.
Change in Number of Participants Using Specialty Care 12 weeks after delivery, 14 months after delivery The number of participants planning to use, or using, specialty health care will be evaluated.
Change in Perceived Risk of Cardiovascular Disease 12 weeks after delivery, 14 months after delivery Future cardiovascular disease risk perception is assessed with a single question asking participants if they think they are at higher or lower risk of having a heart attack or stroke compared to other women of the same age. Responses are given on a 3-point scale where 1 = low risk and 3 = high risk.
Change in Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) Score 12 weeks after delivery, 14 months after delivery Depressive symptoms are assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The EPDS includes 10-items asking participants about symptoms of depression that they have experienced in the past 7 days. Responses are given on a 4-point scale where 0 corresponds with the least amount of symptoms and 3 corresponds with the highest amount of symptoms. Total scores range from 0 to 30 with higher scores indicating increased symptoms of depression. Scores of 10 and greater indicate possible depression.
Satisfaction with Provider at Postpartum Care Visit 12 weeks after delivery Satisfaction with the healthcare provider at the postpartum care visit is assessed with 4 items. Responses are given on a 5-point scale where 1 = poor and 5 = excellent. Total scores range from 4 to 20 where higher scores indicate greater satisfaction with the healthcare provider.
Self-rated Health 14 months after delivery Participants are asked to rate their health in general as "excellent", "very good", "good", "fair", or "poor". The number of participants endorsing each category of health will be assessed.
Change in Number of Participants Using Primary Care 12 weeks after delivery, 14 months after delivery The number of participants planning to attend, or have already attended, a visit with a primary care provider will be evaluated.
Satisfaction with Postpartum Care 12 weeks after delivery Satisfaction with the postpartum checkup is assessed with 4 items asking if participants were satisfied with the wait time, amount of time with healthcare providers, advice given, and respect shown to each individual as a person. Responses are given as "yes" or "no". The count of participants reporting satisfaction with each separate item will be assessed.
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Grady Memorial Hospital
🇺🇸Atlanta, Georgia, United States