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Am J Perinatol 2022; 39(01): 045-053
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1714209
Original Article

Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Diabetes Group Prenatal Care

Ebony B. Carter
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
,
Kate Barbier
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
,
Pamela K. Hill
2   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Denver Health and Hospital, Denver, Colorado
,
Alison G. Cahill
3   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
,
Graham A. Colditz
4   Department of Surgery, Division of Public Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine,, St. Louis, Missouri
,
George A. Macones
3   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
,
Methodius G. Tuuli
5   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
,
Sara E. Mazzoni
6   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama
› Author Affiliations
Funding This study received financial support from Administration for Children and Families Healthy Marriage and Relationship grant (90FM0062), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health T32 training grant (5T32HD055172-05), and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (74250).
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Abstract

Objective This study aimed to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of Diabetes Group Prenatal Care to increase patient engagement in diabetes self-care activities.

Study Design A pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted at two sites. Inclusion criteria were English or Spanish speaking, type 2 or gestational diabetes, 22 to 34 weeks of gestational age at first study visit, ability to attend group care at specified times, and willingness to be randomized. Exclusion criteria included type 1 diabetes, multiple gestation, major fetal anomaly, serious medical comorbidity, and serious psychiatric illness. Women were randomized to Diabetes Group Prenatal Care or individual prenatal care. The primary outcome was completion of diabetes self-care activities, including diet, exercise, blood sugar testing, and medication adherence. Secondary outcomes included antenatal care characteristics, and maternal, neonatal, and diabetes management outcomes. Analysis followed the intention-to-treat principle.

Results Of 159 eligible women, 84 (53%) consented to participate in the study and were randomized to group (n = 42) or individual (n = 42) prenatal care. Demographic characteristics were similar between study arms. Completion of diabetes self-care activities was similar overall, but women in group care ate the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables on more days per week (5.1 days/week ± 2.0 standard deviation [SD] in group care vs. 3.4 days ± 2.6 SD in individual care; p < 0.01) and gained less weight per week during the study period (0.2 lbs/week [interquartile range: 0–0.7] vs. 0.5 lbs/week [interquartile range: 0.2–0.9]; p = 0.03) than women in individual care. Women with gestational diabetes randomized to group care were 3.5 times more likely to have postpartum glucose tolerance testing than those in individual care (70 vs. 21%; relative risk: 3.5; 95% confidence interval: 1.4–8.8). Other maternal, neonatal, and pregnancy outcomes were similar between study arms.

Conclusion Diabetes group care is feasible and shows promise for decreasing gestational weight gain, improving diet, and increasing postpartum diabetes testing among women with pregnancies complicated by diabetes.

Key Points

  • Women with gestational diabetes in group care were 3.5 times more likely to return for postpartum glucose tolerance testing.

  • Women with gestational diabetes in group care had less gestational weight gain during the study period.

  • Diabetes Group Prenatal Care is a promising intervention to improve outcomes for women with diabetes in pregnancy.

Keywords

gestational diabetes - type 2 diabetes - group care - prenatal care

Note

The study paper was presented as abstract number 979 at the 38th Annual Meeting of the Society for Maternal–Fetal Medicine, January 29 to February 3, 2018, Dallas, TX.

The contents of this publication are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official view of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation or the Administration for Children and Families.




Publication History

Received: 30 January 2020

Accepted: 05 June 2020

Article published online:
16 July 2020

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