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

Journal of Perinatology volume 40, pages 1154–1162 (2020)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective

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

Study design

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.

Result

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.

Conclusions

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.

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Fig. 1: Flowchart of screening and enrollment.
Fig. 2: Original one-page, double-sided illustrated handout referenced during consult in IC arm of study.
Fig. 3: Forest plots comparing primary outcomes in pregnant women with risk factors for suboptimal comprehension.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge all of the participating women in the study and the University of Virginia neonatal-perinatal fellows who performed the consultations. Please contact the authors if interested in using the materials used in this study.

Funding

University of Virginia Departmental Fellowship Grant.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neonatology, St. Vincent Hospital, Billings, MT, USA

    Namrita J. Odackal

  2. Division of Translational Research and Applied Statistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Mark Conaway

  3. School of Arts and Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Juyoung Cha

  4. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Jonathan R. Swanson

Authors
  1. Namrita J. Odackal
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  2. Mark Conaway
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  4. Jonathan R. Swanson
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Contributions

NJO conceptualized and designed the study, assisted with data collection, drafted the initial manuscript, and revised the manuscript. JRS supervised the design of the study and revised the manuscript. MC carried out the initial analyses, drafted the statistical components of the manuscript, and reviewed the manuscript. JC assisted with data collection, assisted with statistical analysis, and reviewed the manuscript. All authors approved the final manuscript as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Namrita J. Odackal.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Odackal, N.J., Conaway, M., Cha, J. et al. Prenatal consults with illustrated literature (PnCIL): a RCT studying visual aids during prenatal consults. J Perinatol 40, 1154–1162 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-020-0709-y

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