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
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