Promoting Health During Pregnancy: A Multiple Behavior Computer Tailored Intervention

Pro-Change Behavior Systems

Status: Completed

Conditions: Life Stress; Smoking Cessation; Poor Nutrition

Treatments: Behavioral: Healthy Pregnancy: Step by Step

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01997151

GRANT10236132

5R44DP001115-03 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

This program of research tested the effectiveness of an iPad delivered multiple behavior intervention grounded in the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change for pregnant women. It was hypothesized that the intervention would reduce the number of health behavior risks reported by pregnant women in the treatment group. The target behaviors of the intervention are smoking cessation and relapse prevention, stress management, and fruit and vegetable consumption.

Full description

Promoting health behaviors during pregnancy has tremendous public health significance. Poor health behaviors are associated with pregnancy complications, birth outcomes, and the health of the child. They influence infant birthweight, premature birth, and infant mortality rates, all of which continue to be public health concerns, reflected in the goals of Healthy People 2020.

Pregnant women, particularly those from under-served populations, often have a multitude of health behavior risks that threaten positive pregnancy and birth outcomes, as well as the future health of mother and baby. Pregnancy offers a window of opportunity for behavioral intervention. The immediate health risk for the baby motivates most pregnant women to at least consider changing their behavior. Furthermore, the regular and continual medical care that most pregnant women receive allows optimal access for intervention. The circumstance of pregnancy can be used as a teachable moment to better the future health of women and children.

The primary goals of this study were to complete and enhance the development of an iPad delivered intervention and to assess the efficacy in a randomized clinical trial involving pregnant women from three federally-funded community health centers that treat under-served populations. Using interactive technology, users complete onscreen assessments and receive individually tailored feedback messages on key behavior change strategies identified by the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change and matched to their stage of readiness for each behavior. Supplemental intervention components were created including printed feedback reports, a multiple behavior stage-based manual, and Spanish versions of all intervention materials. This intervention offers a cost-effective, science based, and easily deliverable solution to improve multiple health behaviors, and overall health and well-being, of populations of pregnant women.

Enrollment: 374 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• At least 18 years old
• Speak and read either English or Spanish
• Consent to the research.

Exclusion criteria

• More than 18 weeks gestation

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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374 participants in 2 patient groups

Healthy Pregnancy: Step by Step

Experimental group

Description:

Pregnant women interacted with a multiple behavior change iPad- delivered program at federally funded health centers. The 20-30 minute program offered onscreen assessments of Transtheoretical Model strategies of change, and then provided individually tailored feedback messages matched to their readiness to change for relevant target behaviors. The program addressed smoking cessation and relapse prevention, stress management, and fruit and vegetable consumption. The feedback screens were interactive and engaging. The messages were written at a 4th-5th grade level and were reviewed for multicultural relevancy. Participants in the treatment group interacted with the program up to 3 times during pregnancy. A printed multiple behavior change guide also was distributed. All program components are available in English and Spanish.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Healthy Pregnancy: Step by Step

Usual Care

No Intervention group

Description:

Pregnant women received regular prenatal care as delivered by the health care center from where they were receiving care. Standard informational March of Dimes brochures related to the target behaviors were distributed to usual care participants.