Prenatal Genetics Chatbot Trial: Prenatal GENEie

Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexFemale
Age18-55
SponsorWomen and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island

About this trial

During pregnancy, all pregnant people are offered tests to look for genetic conditions in the baby. However, there isn't a standard way of giving this information to patients. Doctors have a lot of things to discuss during the first prenatal visit and don't always have time to explain genetics in detail. Also, not everyone has access to genetic counselors. Prenatal genetics can be confusing, especially for people who haven't had a lot of formal education or who speak languages other than English. There might be misunderstandings about what these tests can find and what their benefits or risks are for these tests.

Mobile apps, like chatbots, could be a helpful way to give information about prenatal genetics. Almost everyone has a cell phone, and a chatbot can let people learn at their own speed and whenever they want.

The goal of this study is to see if a chatbot app Prenatal GENEie can teach pregnant women about prenatal genetics, and compare the chatbot to talking with a genetic counselor in person. The study wants to answer these main questions:

* Does the Prenatal GENEie help pregnant patients learn about prenatal genetics the same way as a meeting with a genetic counselor? * Can the Prenatal GENEie and in-person counseling both help people make decisions about whether they want prenatal genetic testing?

The researchers will compare the chatbot Prenatal GENEie with in-person counseling to see if the chatbot teaches people about prenatal genetics in a similar way.

Participants will:

* Take a test to check what they already know about prenatal genetics prior to the intervention * Use the chatbot or have an in-person meeting with a genetic counselor * Take a test after using the chatbot or meeting with a counselor to see how much their knowledge has improved * Fill out a survey about how comfortable they feel with their decision to do or not do prenatal genetic testing

Eligibility criteria

Qualifiers

English or Spanish speaking with ability to read and write

Gestational age <20 weeks

Access to smartphone or tablet (through personal use or study)

Disqualifiers

Patients who have already had genetic counseling related to current pregnancy

h/o trisomy, major fetal anomaly. or aneuploidy in previous pregnancy

Parent with Robertsonian translocation

Twins, vanishing twin, multi-gestation pregnancy

Trial design

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Prenatal GENEie Chatbot
  • In-person genetic counseling

Treatment groups

1,470 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups

Sponsors and collaborators

Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island

Lead sponsor

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Collaborator