Research standardization tools: pregnancy measures in the PhenX Toolkit

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Clinical Research Methodology

Background:

• Research heterogeneity in pregnancy studies hinders clinical care advancements.
• Standardized data collection is crucial for synthesizing findings and improving maternal and newborn health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce 15 standardized measures for pregnancy research within the PhenX Toolkit.
• To reduce data heterogeneity and enhance the reliability of conclusions in pregnancy studies.

Main Methods:

• A working group of pregnancy experts recommended measures following the PhenX consensus process.
• Included validated, established, nonproprietary protocols with low participant burden.
• Measures cover conception, gestational age, fetal growth, prenatal care, delivery, gestational diabetes, mental health, and biomarkers.

Main Results:

• Fifteen new pregnancy-related measures were added to the PhenX Toolkit.
• The toolkit provides data dictionaries and worksheets for easy integration into studies.
• These measures complement existing domains like reproductive health and anthropometrics.

Conclusions:

• The PhenX Toolkit offers a valuable resource for pregnancy researchers and clinicians.
• Utilizing these standardized measures will facilitate collaborative research and improve patient care.
• Standardization enhances the impact of studies, translating findings into clinical practice.