Impact of GWG Tool on Patient Knowledge

Impact of a Patient Education Intervention on Maternal Knowledge of Gestational Weight Gain Recommendations

Women with singleton pregnancies at one outpatient clinic to be recruited for controlled clinical trial. Over eight weeks, women 15 0/7--22 6/7 weeks' with at least one prior prenatal visit to be enrolled in the control group. Women 6 0/7--14 6/7 weeks' to be enrolled in the intervention group at their first prenatal visit and to receive a pregnancy-specific gestational weight gain card. Women to be encouraged to record their weight at each prenatal care visit. All women to complete a GWG knowledge--based questionnaire at 15 0/7-22 6/7 weeks'.

Pregnancy, Gestational weight gain, Weight gain, Patient education, Patient knowledge, Institute of Medicine

Subjects to be enrolled into the intervention and standard-of-care groups depending on their gestational age at the time of consent during the expected 2 month period of enrollment. Any subject who is between 6 weeks 0 days and 14 weeks 6 days of pregnancy at the time of consent and who has had no prior prenatal visits will be enrolled in the intervention group. Any subject who is between 15 weeks 0 days to 22 weeks 6 days of pregnancy at the time of consent and who has had at least one prior prenatal visit will be enrolled in the control group.

Subjects to receive the Gestational Weight Gain Card at enrollment in addition to standard prenatal care.

The Gestational Weight Gain Card is designed to be an educational and weight gain tracking tool. Study subjects will be highly encouraged to use the GWG card to gain both important clinical information and to document weight measurements throughout their pregnancy.

Comparison of number of participants in control vs. intervention groups who correctly answer multiple choice and free response questions related to pregnancy-specific topics and guidelines following intervention.

Description of general patient population knowledge of pregnancy-specific topics and guidelines from number of participants who correctly answer multiple choice and free response questions related to pregnancy-specific topics and guidelines prior to intervention.

Inclusion Criteria: Singleton gestation Primary prenatal care at MetroHealth Medical Center Planning to deliver at MetroHealth Medical Center Exclusion Criteria: Any inclusion criteria not met Prior diagnosis of eating disorder Inadequate knowledge of English language