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WhatsApp-based Psycho-socio-educational Intervention (WeLove) for Prevention of Psychological and Sleep Problems in Pregnant Women and Their Partners: A Three-arm Double-blinded Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial

NCT06768190 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 120

Last updated 2025-01-23

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Objectives: (1) evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the WhatsApp-based psycho-socio-educational intervention (WeLove); (2) preliminarily examine the effects of the intervention on psychological symptoms (depression, anxiety, stress symptoms), sleep quality, and life satisfaction; and (3) preliminarily examine the interdependence between psychological symptoms and sleep quality in pregnant women and their partners.

Methods: The investigators will use WhatsApp to provide the six sessions of the intervention, which include psychological, social, and educational components. A three-arm double-blinded pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) is used in 60 couples, followed by individual face-to-face interviews for process evaluation in 10 to 20 couples based on data saturation. Participants will be assigned to one of three groups and 20 couples per group: intervention 1 (couples for WeLove), intervention 2 (pregnant women for WeLove), or the control group (use WhatsApp as normal). Participants will be assessed pre- and post-intervention. Generalised estimating equation analysis and thematic analysis will be performed to examine the research objectives.

Conditions

  • Sleep Problems
  • Psychological
  • Well-Being, Psychological

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

WhatsApp as usual

Pregnant women and their partners are instructed to use WhatsApp as normal for six weeks.

BEHAVIORAL

WhatsApp-based psycho-socio-educational intervention (WeLove)

The intervention comprises six sessions, including psychoeducation, communication training, sleep hygiene, stimulus control, cognitive restructuring, and behavioural activation. Each session has two short videos, quizzes, forums, and homework. The content is presented through a virtual midwife using storytelling of real-life scenarios, animation, and case vignettes about psychological and sleep problems during pregnancy. A virtual midwife acts as an educator to explain the prevalence, causes, and factors of psychological and sleep problems. Every session will concentrate on certain courses and offer specialised advice to expectant mothers and their partners. Using the security links on the WhatsApp platform, each session takes 15 to 20 minutes to finish.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Hospital Authority, Hong Kong

    collaborator OTHER_GOV

  • Chinese University of Hong Kong

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-01-06
Primary Completion
2026-01-31
Completion
2027-01-31

Countries

  • Hong Kong

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT06768190 on ClinicalTrials.gov