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Am J Perinatol
DOI: 10.1055/a-2719-4992
Original Article

Assessing the Impact of a Digital Patient Navigation Tool for Iron Deficiency Anemia in Pregnancy: A Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Trial

Authors

  • Natasha R. Kumar    †

    1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Health Systems, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

  • Zoya Butt

    1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Health Systems, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

  • Jonathan B. Calcei

    1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Health Systems, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

  • Markolline Forkpa

    1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Health Systems, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

  • Sunni Mumford

    2   Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania Health Systems, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

  • Lisa D. Levine

    1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Health Systems, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

  • Rebecca F. Hamm

    1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Health Systems, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Funding Information The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Pennsylvania covered the cost to host the digital navigation tool for the duration of this study. Otherwise, the authors received no financial support for this study.
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Abstract

Objective

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Patient navigation tools have improved treatment and surveillance completion among postpartum populations. Our study aimed to evaluate the impact of prospectively implementing a digital patient navigation tool for IDA in prenatal care (PN-IDA).

Study Design

This pilot type 1 hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial utilized a difference-in-differences (DiD) design to compare pre- and postimplementation outcomes at an intervention site to a control site. The trial was performed at a tertiary academic center in the northeastern United States between April 2023 and April 2024. Patients with third-trimester Hgb < 9.5 g/dL were institutionally eligible for IV iron (IVFe) and included in this analysis. Dual primary outcomes were completion of ≥ 1 IVFe infusion and perceived health competence (validated eight-item survey). Implementation outcomes assessed penetration and fidelity. Multivariable logistical and linear regression models controlling for differences in site characteristics over time used interaction terms to estimate DiD.

Results

Three hundred and seventy-eight patients were included. While IVFe completion increased at both sites (66–84% at the intervention site vs. 78–83% at the control site), there was no statistically significant difference (DiD RR: 1.13, 95% CI: 0.91–1.38). Perceived health competence remained similar at both sites (median score: 3.3–3.3 at the intervention site vs. median score: 3.3–3.1 at the control site, DiD RR: 0.15, 95% CI: −0.08 to 0.38). PN-IDA had a high level of penetration (i.e., integration of practice within a service setting), but poor fidelity (i.e., degree to which an intervention is delivered as intended). Sixty-six percent of eligible patients enrolled, but only 24% accessed PN-IDA more than once.

Conclusion

PN-IDA implementation increased IVFe completion by 18% at the intervention site, but our study was underpowered to assess this difference. Future work will refine PN-IDA to optimize fidelity.

Key Points

  • Completion of > 1 infusion increased by 18% at the intervention versus 5% at the control site (95% CI: 0.91–1.38).

  • Two-thirds of eligible patients enrolled in the tool.

  • Only 24% of enrolled patients accessed the tool > 1 time.

Keywords

implementation science - patient navigation - iron deficiency anemia - pregnancy - health services research

† Author's current institution (different from where work was done): Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States.


Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 23 April 2025

Accepted: 08 October 2025

Article published online:
17 October 2025

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