Text4Father Pilot Feasibility, Acceptability Study

NCT04101565 | Completed Results

• 2 other identifiers: IRB002263671R21HD097453-01A1
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 120
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study evaluates the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of Text4Father among first-time lower income fathers. Half of the participants will receive Text4Father - a text messaging educational program - from mid-pregnancy through 2 months of postnatal age, while the other half will receive usual care.

Conditions

Fathers; Mhealth; Mobile Health; Nuclear Family

Keywords

Fatherhood

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Feasibility of Overall Recruitment

  Feasibility of recruitment will be measured as the number of fathers who were randomized and completed baseline procedures.

  At Baseline

• Feasibility of Overall Retention

  Feasibility of retention will be assessed as the number of enrolled participants who complete 7-month follow-up survey (2-months of postnatal age).

  Follow-up (7 months)

• Intervention Usability as Assessed by the Usability Score

  11 item self-report measure among participating intervention fathers with higher score indicating greater perceived usability of technology (text messaging program). This measure is scaled with range from 1 (low) to 4 (high). Mean of participant scale choice (1-4) is reported.

  Follow-up (7 months)

• Intervention Acceptability as Assessed by the Acceptability Score

  An 9 item self-report measure among participating intervention fathers with higher score indicating greater perceived acceptability of technology (text messaging program). This measure is scaled with range from 1 (low) to 4 (high). Mean of participant scale choice (1-4) is reported.

  Follow-up (7 months)

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Self-efficacy as Assessed by the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale (PSOC)

  7 months (2 months post-birth)

Study Arms (2)

Text4Father

EXPERIMENTAL

Receipt of twice-weekly texts that include resource links and instructions to support behavior change (e.g., videos, infographics) and start mid-pregnancy and continuing through 2 months of baby's age.

Behavioral: Text4Father

Usual care

NO INTERVENTION

Usual care that is consistent with typical maternity care in involving expectant fathers.

Interventions

Text4Father BEHAVIORAL

Receipt of twice-weekly texts that include resource links and instructions to support behavior change (e.g., videos, infographics) and start mid-pregnancy and continuing through 2 months of age.

Text4Father

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study
• Self-reported expectant father and pregnant partner (expectant mother)
• Aged ≥18 years
• In a romantic relationship and expect to continue to be in this relationship during the study period
• Able to speak English
• Lower socioeconomic status (SES) (e.g., high school/general education or vocational/trade school or less; or qualify for Medicaid/public insurance, WIC, SNAP, food stamps)
• Access to necessary resources for participating in a technology-based intervention (i.e., cell phone) and willing/able to receive/send texts

You may not qualify if:

• Individuals who are not able to provide informed consent.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Johns Hopkins University: lead
• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Johns Hopkins Hospital

Baltimore, Maryland, 21287, United States

Location

Related Publications (4)

• Marcell AV, Johnson SB, Nelson T, Labrique AB, Eck KV, Skelton S, Aqil A, Gibson D. Protocol for the Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy Trial of text4FATHER for Improving Underserved Fathers' Involvement in Infant Care. J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2021;32(3):1110-1135. doi: 10.1353/hpu.2021.0117.

  PMID: 34421016 BACKGROUND

• Allport BS, Johnson S, Aqil A, Labrique AB, Nelson T, Kc A, Carabas Y, Marcell AV. Promoting Father Involvement for Child and Family Health. Acad Pediatr. 2018 Sep-Oct;18(7):746-753. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2018.03.011. Epub 2018 Apr 10.

  PMID: 29653255 BACKGROUND

• Allport-Altillo BS, Aqil AR, Nelson T, Johnson SB, Labrique AB, Carabas Y, Marcell AV. Parents' Perspectives on Supporting Father Involvement in African American Families During Pregnancy and Early Infancy. J Natl Med Assoc. 2020 Aug;112(4):344-361. doi: 10.1016/j.jnma.2020.04.002. Epub 2020 May 11.

  PMID: 32409095 BACKGROUND

• Aqil A, Allport BS, Johnson SB, Nelson T, Labrique AB, Marcell AV. Content to share with expectant fathers: Views of professionals focused on father involvement. Midwifery. 2019 Mar;70:119-126. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2018.12.018. Epub 2018 Dec 24.

  PMID: 30611921 BACKGROUND

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Dr. Arik Marcell
• Organization: Johns Hopkins Dept of Pediatrics / Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine

amarcell@jhu.edu

4432878946

Study Officials

• Arik V Marcell, MD, MPH

  Johns Hopkins University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: No
• Restrictive Agreement: No

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: 2 groups will be enrolled and randomized to receipt or not receipt of the intervention.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 23, 2019
• First Posted: September 24, 2019
• Study Start: December 26, 2019
• Primary Completion: May 14, 2024
• Study Completion: May 31, 2024
• Last Updated: May 4, 2025
• Results First Posted: May 4, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)