Comparing Different Methods of Patient Education on Preeclampsia

Summary

Preeclampsia is a life-threatening condition unique to pregnancy which occurs in 5-8% of all pregnancies. It contributes to a large proportion of maternal mortality worldwide and these deaths largely result from delayed diagnosis.

A number of studies have shown that patient knowledge about preeclampsia is poor and that patient education can improve patient awareness. The investigators would like to find out what type of patient education is most effective. The investigators propose a three arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) where the first arm will receive a graphic card depicting signs and symptoms of preeclampsia, the second arm will watch an educational video on preeclampsia, and the third arm will have no visual form of patient education; they will be exposed only to the counseling they receive with their routine prenatal care. The card and video were both developed by the Preeclampsia Foundation and in a prior RCT the card was shown to be a useful educational intervention. This study would expand on this previous data by comparing the graphic card to an informational video available on the Preeclampsia Foundation's website (http://www.preeclampsia.org/component/allvideoshare/video/featured/7-symptoms-every-pregnant-woman-should-know?Itemid=479). The effectiveness of this video has not yet been tested as an educational tool. Patients in the arm receiving the graphic card for educational intervention will be allowed to keep this card. Primiparous patients seen in the ambulatory prenatal clinic and Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) clinic will be enrolled at 18w0d-24w6d gestation. At the time of enrollment baseline preeclampsia knowledge, demographics, and patient anxiety before and after initial exposure to the educational interventions will be assessed. A follow up assessment of knowledge of preeclampsia will be obtained at 32-36 weeks gestation to measure retention of knowledge. Patient medical records will be reviewed for delivery outcomes which will be recorded and compared.

Conditions

• Preeclampsia
• Anxiety
• Hypertension
• Pregnancy
• Eclampsia
• HELLP

Interventions

OTHER

Graphic card

A randomized controlled trial comparing patient education on preeclampsia with a graphic card vs. patient education with a written pamphlet vs. no patient education showed that patient education improved significantly when patients were provided with a graphic card depicting signs and symptoms of preeclampsia and that this improvement occurred regardless of health literacy score (You WB, Wolf MS, Bailey SC, Grobman WA. Improving patient understanding of preeclampsia: a randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Obstetrics \& Gynecology. 2012;206:431.e1-431.e5.). The graphic card is now available on the Preeclampsia Foundation's website (http://www.preeclampsia.org/market-place/educational-illustrated-signs-symptoms-pad-detail).

OTHER

Video

This an informational video available on the Preeclampsia Foundation's website (http://www.preeclampsia.org/component/allvideoshare/video/featured/7-symptoms-every-pregnant-woman-should-know?Itemid=479). The effectiveness of this video has not yet been tested as an educational tool.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Geisinger Clinic

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Michael J Paglia, MD, PhD · Geisinger Clinic

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2016-05-31

Primary Completion

2017-07-30

Completion

2017-07-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations