Trial Outcomes & Findings for HEARTPrep: A Virtually-delivered Psychosocial Intervention for Mothers Expecting a Baby With Congenital Heart Disease (NCT NCT05129631)

NCT ID: NCT05129631

Last Updated: 2026-08-31

Results Overview

Assesses depression over six weeks of HEARTPrep. Item responses range from 1-5 with higher scores reflecting greater depression. Raw scores are converted to T-scores, which have a population mean of 50 with a standard deviation of 10. Higher scores represent a worse outcome. A T-score of 60-69 is indicative of a moderate level of depression and a T-score of 70 and above is indicative of a severe level of depression.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

30 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6

Results posted on

2026-08-31

Participant Flow

Recruitment began in July 2023 and ended in March 2025. Perinatal nurse coordinators at Nemours Children's Health provided eligible expectant mothers with information about the research study during fetal cardiology appointments or by phone and directly referred mothers to the study. Expectant mothers were then contacted by a research team member to provide more information about the study and conduct the informed consent process.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
HEARTPrep Intervention
HEARTPrep is a prenatal psychosocial intervention aimed at improving mental health and wellbeing for mothers expecting a baby with congenital heart disease (CHD). HEARTPrep is virtually delivered via mobile app and consists of three self-paced modules containing tools for coping and videos of parents sharing their experiences and corresponding live telehealth sessions with a psychosocial provider.
Overall Study
STARTED
30
Overall Study
COMPLETED
23
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
7

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
HEARTPrep Intervention
HEARTPrep is a prenatal psychosocial intervention aimed at improving mental health and wellbeing for mothers expecting a baby with congenital heart disease (CHD). HEARTPrep is virtually delivered via mobile app and consists of three self-paced modules containing tools for coping and videos of parents sharing their experiences and corresponding live telehealth sessions with a psychosocial provider.
Overall Study
Lost to Follow-up
2
Overall Study
Withdrawal by Subject
1
Overall Study
No longer eligible (early delivery, change in fetal diagnosis)
3
Overall Study
Participant was hospitalized (unrelated to the study)
1

Baseline Characteristics

17 participants completed measures at Week 0 (Baseline)

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
HEARTPrep Intervention
n=30 Participants
HEARTPrep is a prenatal psychosocial intervention aimed at improving mental health and wellbeing for mothers expecting a baby with congenital heart disease (CHD). HEARTPrep is virtually delivered via mobile app and consists of three self-paced modules containing tools for coping and videos of parents sharing their experiences and corresponding live telehealth sessions with a psychosocial provider.
Age, Customized
18-24 years old
4 Participants
n=14 Participants
Age, Customized
25-29 years old
10 Participants
n=14 Participants
Age, Customized
30-34 years old
11 Participants
n=14 Participants
Age, Customized
35-43 years old
5 Participants
n=14 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
30 Participants
n=14 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
0 Participants
n=14 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=14 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
n=14 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=14 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
10 Participants
n=14 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
19 Participants
n=14 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
n=14 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
1 Participants
n=14 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
1 Participants
n=14 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
29 Participants
n=14 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=14 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
30 Participants
n=14 Participants
Depression - Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Short-Form
58.03 T-score
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.92 • n=14 Participants • 17 participants completed measures at Week 0 (Baseline)
Anxiety - Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Short-Form
59.85 T-score
STANDARD_DEVIATION 12.89 • n=14 Participants • 17 participants completed measures at Week 0 (Baseline)
Social Isolation - Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Short-Form
47.98 T-score
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.41 • n=14 Participants • 17 participants completed measures at Week 0 (Baseline)
Self-Efficacy - Short Form
13 Scores on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 3.71 • n=14 Participants • 17 participants completed measures at Week 0 (Baseline)
Hope - Short Form
15.47 Scores on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 3.45 • n=14 Participants • 17 participants completed measures at Week 0 (Baseline)

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6

Population: Participating mothers were asked to complete brief measures on a weekly basis throughout participation in HEARTPrep. Due to variability in timing of measure completion, weeks were defined as 1 (8-14 days after starting HEARTPrep), 2 (15-21 days), 3 (22-28 days), 4 (29-35 days), and 6 (36-49 days).

Assesses depression over six weeks of HEARTPrep. Item responses range from 1-5 with higher scores reflecting greater depression. Raw scores are converted to T-scores, which have a population mean of 50 with a standard deviation of 10. Higher scores represent a worse outcome. A T-score of 60-69 is indicative of a moderate level of depression and a T-score of 70 and above is indicative of a severe level of depression.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
HEARTPrep Intervention
n=24 Participants
HEARTPrep is a prenatal psychosocial intervention aimed at improving mental health and wellbeing for mothers expecting a baby with congenital heart disease (CHD). HEARTPrep is virtually delivered via mobile app and consists of three self-paced modules containing tools for coping and videos of parents sharing their experiences and corresponding live telehealth sessions with a psychosocial provider.
Depression - Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Short-Form
Week 1
53.64 T-score
Standard Deviation 11.75
Depression - Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Short-Form
Week 2
54.47 T-score
Standard Deviation 10.58
Depression - Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Short-Form
Week 3
53.55 T-score
Standard Deviation 10.54
Depression - Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Short-Form
Week 4
54.97 T-score
Standard Deviation 10.93
Depression - Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Short-Form
Week 6
51.31 T-score
Standard Deviation 7.62

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6

Population: Participating mothers were asked to complete brief measures on a weekly basis throughout participation in HEARTPrep. Due to variability in timing of measure completion, weeks were defined as 1 (8-14 days after starting HEARTPrep), 2 (15-21 days), 3 (22-28 days), 4 (29-35 days), and 6 (36-49 days).

Assesses anxiety over six weeks of HEARTPrep. Item responses range from 1-5 with higher scores reflecting greater anxiety. Raw scores are converted to T-scores, which have a population mean of 50 with a standard deviation of 10. Higher scores represent a worse outcome. A T-score of 60-69 is indicative of a moderate level of anxiety and a T-score of 70 and above is indicative of a severe level of anxiety.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
HEARTPrep Intervention
n=24 Participants
HEARTPrep is a prenatal psychosocial intervention aimed at improving mental health and wellbeing for mothers expecting a baby with congenital heart disease (CHD). HEARTPrep is virtually delivered via mobile app and consists of three self-paced modules containing tools for coping and videos of parents sharing their experiences and corresponding live telehealth sessions with a psychosocial provider.
Anxiety - Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Short-Form
Week 1
57.53 T-score
Standard Deviation 9.60
Anxiety - Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Short-Form
Week 2
58.29 T-score
Standard Deviation 8.44
Anxiety - Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Short-Form
Week 3
56.03 T-score
Standard Deviation 10.17
Anxiety - Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Short-Form
Week 4
58.9 T-score
Standard Deviation 11.36
Anxiety - Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Short-Form
Week 6
55.12 T-score
Standard Deviation 8.95

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6

Population: Participating mothers were asked to complete brief measures on a weekly basis throughout participation in HEARTPrep. Due to variability in timing of measure completion, weeks were defined as 1 (8-14 days after starting HEARTPrep), 2 (15-21 days), 3 (22-28 days), 4 (29-35 days), and 6 (36-49 days).

Assesses social isolation over six weeks of HEARTPrep. Item responses range from 1-5 with higher scores reflecting greater social isolation. Raw scores are converted to T-scores, which have a population mean of 50 with a standard deviation of 10. Higher scores represent a worse outcome. A T-score of 60-69 is indicative of a moderate level of social isolation and a T-score of 70 and above is indicative of a severe level of social isolation.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
HEARTPrep Intervention
n=24 Participants
HEARTPrep is a prenatal psychosocial intervention aimed at improving mental health and wellbeing for mothers expecting a baby with congenital heart disease (CHD). HEARTPrep is virtually delivered via mobile app and consists of three self-paced modules containing tools for coping and videos of parents sharing their experiences and corresponding live telehealth sessions with a psychosocial provider.
Social Isolation - Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Short-Form
Week 1
47.48 T-score
Standard Deviation 10.32
Social Isolation - Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Short-Form
Week 2
48.53 T-score
Standard Deviation 11.89
Social Isolation - Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Short-Form
Week 3
45.87 T-score
Standard Deviation 11.82
Social Isolation - Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Short-Form
Week 4
47.85 T-score
Standard Deviation 10.19
Social Isolation - Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Short-Form
Week 6
43.21 T-score
Standard Deviation 8.26

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6

Population: Participating mothers were asked to complete brief measures on a weekly basis throughout participation in HEARTPrep. Due to variability in timing of measure completion, weeks were defined as 1 (8-14 days after starting HEARTPrep), 2 (15-21 days), 3 (22-28 days), 4 (29-35 days), and 6 (36-49 days).

Assesses feelings of self-efficacy over six weeks of HEARTPrep (item responses range from 1-5 with higher scores reflecting greater self-efficacy; minimum score = 4; maximum score = 20)

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
HEARTPrep Intervention
n=24 Participants
HEARTPrep is a prenatal psychosocial intervention aimed at improving mental health and wellbeing for mothers expecting a baby with congenital heart disease (CHD). HEARTPrep is virtually delivered via mobile app and consists of three self-paced modules containing tools for coping and videos of parents sharing their experiences and corresponding live telehealth sessions with a psychosocial provider.
Self-Efficacy Short-Form
Week 1
14.14 Scores on a scale
Standard Deviation 3.90
Self-Efficacy Short-Form
Week 2
13.87 Scores on a scale
Standard Deviation 3.78
Self-Efficacy Short-Form
Week 3
14.5 Scores on a scale
Standard Deviation 3.47
Self-Efficacy Short-Form
Week 4
14.91 Scores on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.59
Self-Efficacy Short-Form
Week 6
15.6 Scores on a scale
Standard Deviation 3.92

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6

Population: Participating mothers were asked to complete brief measures on a weekly basis throughout participation in HEARTPrep. Due to variability in timing of measure completion, weeks were defined as 1 (8-14 days after starting HEARTPrep), 2 (15-21 days), 3 (22-28 days), 4 (29-35 days), and 6 (36-49 days).

Assesses feelings of hope over six weeks of HEARTPrep (item responses range from 1-5 with higher scores reflecting greater hope; minimum score = 4; maximum score = 20)

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
HEARTPrep Intervention
n=24 Participants
HEARTPrep is a prenatal psychosocial intervention aimed at improving mental health and wellbeing for mothers expecting a baby with congenital heart disease (CHD). HEARTPrep is virtually delivered via mobile app and consists of three self-paced modules containing tools for coping and videos of parents sharing their experiences and corresponding live telehealth sessions with a psychosocial provider.
Hope Short-Form
Week 1
17.14 Scores on a scale
Standard Deviation 3.72
Hope Short-Form
Week 2
16.2 Scores on a scale
Standard Deviation 3.65
Hope Short-Form
Week 3
17 Scores on a scale
Standard Deviation 3.43
Hope Short-Form
Week 4
16.91 Scores on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.66
Hope Short-Form
Week 6
18 Scores on a scale
Standard Deviation 3.06

Adverse Events

HEARTPrep Intervention

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Erica Sood, PhD

Nemours Children's Health

Phone: 302-651-4500

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place