NCT05655936

Brief Summary

This is a single site, single-blinded parallel randomized control trial that investigates a multi-level intervention to improve postpartum blood pressure in women with hypertensive disorder pregnancy. The investigators will recruit women diagnosed with a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, identified between 3rd trimester and 2 weeks post-delivery. The investigators will randomize participants to receive usual care home blood pressure monitoring for 6 weeks versus an intervention of usual care + blood pressure and weight monitoring + a doula trained in heart health. This trial will be conducted in partnership with a local community-based organization, Healthy Start Inc.

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
454

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
14mo left

Started Jun 2023

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress71%
Jun 2023Jul 2027

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

December 8, 2022

Completed
11 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

December 19, 2022

Completed
6 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

June 29, 2023

Completed
4 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

July 1, 2027

Expected
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

July 1, 2027

Last Updated

October 20, 2025

Status Verified

May 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

4 years

First QC Date

December 8, 2022

Last Update Submit

October 14, 2025

Conditions

Keywords

Postpartum Doula, Doula Intervention

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Assess MAP at 12 months postpartum

    To test the effectiveness of the postpartum Doula intervention the investigators will evaluate blood pressure and mean arterial pressure (MAP) at 12 months postpartum.

    Baseline to approximately 12 months postpartum

Secondary Outcomes (2)

  • Change from baseline in racial disparities and blood pressure & MAP at 12 months

    Baseline to approximately 12 months postpartum

  • Assess Racial Disparities in Healthcare Delivery

    Up to 12 months postpartum

Study Arms (2)

Usual Care Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The usual care group will receive remote blood pressure monitoring for approximately 6 weeks via the clinical home blood pressure monitoring program at Magee Women's Hospital of UPMC and be discharged after delivery as usual. This monitoring is standardly offered to women post-delivery with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Participants will text in their blood pressures to the medical record systems and be monitored by clinical staff.

Behavioral: Usual Care

Postpartum Doula Intervention Group

EXPERIMENTAL

The intervention group will receive study devices (blood pressure cuff, scales, etc.) and instructions on 10-12 months of remote blood pressure, and weight monitoring. An electronic referral will be sent to the Healthy Start program to initiate postpartum Doula support for 8-12 weeks, and a Doula moderated social support group for 6 months. The postpartum Doula will deliver a heart health focused intervention aimed at reducing blood pressure by approximately 12 weeks postpartum.

Behavioral: Heart Health Doula Intervention ProgramBehavioral: Usual Care

Interventions

The intervention group will be given a smart blood pressure cuff and a smart scale to monitor weight. The intervention group will receive support provided a postpartum doula until 8-12 weeks postpartum. The doula will provide individualized support during this time, and after 8-12 weeks, women will transition to a doula-moderated support group for the remainder of the study. The intervention group will continue to receive blood pressure and weight monitoring for the remainder of the study.

Postpartum Doula Intervention Group
Usual CareBEHAVIORAL

Usual care includes enrollment into a clinical 6-week home-based blood pressure monitoring program with text messaging support which includes receiving a home blood pressure cuff. Women in the intervention group will be offered the same support as the usual care group, and in addition will receive the intervention and supplies.

Postpartum Doula Intervention GroupUsual Care Group

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexfemale
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Women must be pregnant or postpartum and assessed during pregnancy and/or delivery with a diagnosis of a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (pre-eclampsia, eclampsia or gestational hypertension).
  • Women must reside in Allegheny, Westmoreland, Beaver, Butler, or Washington County. Participant may also reside within 100 miles of Allegheny County.
  • The participant must deliver (or plan to deliver) at Magee-Womens Hospital

You may not qualify if:

  • No pre-pregnancy chronic conditions that affect blood pressure such as hypertension or on antihypertensive medications within 3 months before conception.
  • No diabetes (type 1 or type 2)
  • No chronic and severe renal or liver disease or systemic lupus erythematous
  • No women under the age of 18

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Magee Women's Hospital of UPMC

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Pre-EclampsiaToxemiaPregnancy ComplicationsHypertension, Pregnancy-InducedHypertensionObesityOverweightNutrition DisordersVascular DiseasesCardiovascular DiseasesEclampsia

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy ComplicationsUrogenital DiseasesInfectionsOvernutritionNutritional and Metabolic DiseasesBody WeightSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

  • Janet Catov, PhD

    University of Pittsburgh

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT
Masking Details
Participants and Investigators will be blinded until randomization assignment is executed.
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Model Details: The investigators will conduct a prospective single site, single-blinded, parallel randomized control trial in which women diagnosed with HDP will be randomized into either the control or intervention group. The investigators will randomize 454 women into usual care, or an 8-12-week heart health intervention program provided by a postpartum Doula. Randomization will be stratified by race to achieve over enrollment of Black and African American participants.
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

December 8, 2022

First Posted

December 19, 2022

Study Start

June 29, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

July 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 1, 2027

Last Updated

October 20, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-05

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will share

Deidentified data (including data dictionaries) will be shared at the direction of the primary investigator. Data will include blood pressure, weight, demographics, physical activity, and pregnancy related information. Additional documents (such as the study protocol) will be made available. The dataset for our project will be prepared according to requirements for and stored on the Clinicaltrials.gov data repository. Per the NIH guidelines, the dataset will be submitted to the program officer within a year after the outcomes are published and no later than 3 years after the end of clinical activities.

Shared Documents
STUDY PROTOCOL
Time Frame
Within a year after outcomes are published and no later than 3 years after the end of clinical activities.
Access Criteria
NHLBI data repository request process
More information

Locations