Prenatal consults with illustrated literature (PnCIL): a RCT studying visual aids during prenatal consults

We hypothesize that addition of illustrated handouts during prenatal consultations decreases maternal anxiety and improves maternal knowledge.

Inpatient gravid women at 25 0/7-34 6/7 weeks gestation were randomized to Standard or Illustrated consults, verbal consults supplemented with a visual handout. Post consult surveys were administered assessing maternal anxiety and knowledge acquisition.

We enrolled 82 women; 54 to Standard Consult, 28 to Illustrated Consult. Consult duration was the same across arms. Anxiety and knowledge were not impacted by the intervention overall. We found higher mean knowledge by 17% for consults ≥31 min (P = 0.006; 95% CI 0.67-3.82), and 13% in primigravids (P = 0.032; 95% CI 0.15-3.21) in the intervention arm.

Using illustrated handouts is feasible and does not increase duration of prenatal consults. It may improve knowledge acquisition in long consults and in primigravida women, although it does not impact anxiety and knowledge overall.