Smartphone-Based Video Antenatal Preterm Birth Education: The Preemie Prep for Parents Randomized Clinical Trial

Area of Science:

• Perinatal Medicine
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Neonatology

Background:

• Preterm birth is a major cause of infant mortality and morbidity.
• Standard prenatal care often lacks anticipatory education for parents at risk of preterm birth, leaving them unprepared for critical healthcare decisions.
• This knowledge gap can negatively impact maternal and infant outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of the Preemie Prep for Parents (P3) program on maternal knowledge regarding preterm birth.
• To evaluate the program's effect on parents' preparedness for making healthcare decisions.
• To measure changes in anxiety levels among participants.

Main Methods:

• A randomized clinical trial involving 120 pregnant individuals with preterm birth risk factors.
• Participants were enrolled between 16-21 weeks of gestation.
• The intervention group received mobile-based animated videos, while the control group received standard webpages.

Main Results:

• The P3 program group demonstrated significantly higher knowledge of long-term preterm birth outcomes (88.5% vs 73.2%).
• Participants in the P3 group reported greater preparedness for neonatal resuscitation decision-making (76.0 vs 52.3).
• No significant difference in anxiety levels was observed between the P3 and control groups.

Conclusions:

• The P3 program effectively enhanced knowledge and decision-making preparedness in at-risk pregnant individuals.
• Mobile antenatal education for preterm birth offers significant benefits without increasing anxiety.
• This approach can empower parents to make informed choices for maternal and infant health.