Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Healthcare during pregnancy and childbirth have been found to be very different between migrants and the host population. Studies have reported that there is a higher risk of preterm bitch and complications (such as low birth weight and/or the need for care in hospital) in the migrant population. These findings are in line with the Swiss literature of the last two decades. In a recent study, Villadsen and colleagues suggested that the increased risk of negative pregnancy and childbirth outcomes might be among others due to inadequate provision and use of care. To use health care adequately health literacy (the ability to obtain, read and understand information about healthcare) is crucial. Therefore the first important step for pregnant women and their families is to find information and services, which are useful to ensure good health for mother and child. To our knowledge, until now no study in Switzerland has evaluated what information during pregnancy are useful for Swiss and migrant women. The aim of this study therefore is to find out the kind of information used and rated as beneficial by migrant and Swiss women during pregnancy and childbirth.
Who can participate?
Women aged 18 years and over who are at least 36 weeks pregnant or who are in the first 12 months after having given birth in the city of Zurich or Geneva.
What does the study involve?
All women are invited to complere a structured, anonymous questionnaire about their knowledge and use of healthcare resources during their pregnancy, as well as their opinions about the care they received. The questionnaire takes around 20 minutes to complete. The results of the study are then compared between Swiss nationals and migrant women.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There are no direct benefits or risks involved for those taking part in this study.
Where is the study run from?
1. University Hospitals of Geneva (Switzerland)
2. University Hospital Zurich (Switzerland)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 2016 to December 2016
Who is funding the study?
University Hospital Geneva (Switzerland)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Nicole Schmidt
Trial website
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
2016-00513
Study information
Scientific title
Utilization and utility of pregnancy information for women during pregnancy in the cantons of Geneva an Zurich
Acronym
COMIRES TAK
Study hypothesis
Non-Swiss women use less or other information during pregnancy than Swiss nationals and participate less in pregnancy activities.
Ethics approval
1. Ethical Commission of the Canton of Geneva, 09/06/2016, ref: 2016-00513
2. Ethical Commission of the University Hospital of Zurich, 09/06/2016
Study design
Prospective cross sectional study
Primary study design
Observational
Secondary study design
Cross sectional study
Trial setting
Hospitals
Trial type
Other
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Pregnancy
Intervention
The study will be conducted at the postpartum or the antenatal clinic ward in the Department of Obstetrics at the University Hospital of Geneva or the University of Zurich respectively. All women who fullfill the inclusion criteria will be invited after written consent to respond to a structured questionnaire exploring the knowledge and utilization of obstetric resources, but also experiences of care recieved. The questionnaire will be available in 8 of the predominant languages of the study site. The time to fill out the survey is approximatley 20 minutes.
There is no follow up after completion of the study survey.
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Information utilized by participants and participation in birth preparation activities is measured through the structured questionnaire designed for the purpose of this study at the study visit.
Secondary outcome measures
Feelings of being well-informed and by what means is measured though the structured questionnaire designed for the purpose of this study at the study visit.
Overall trial start date
01/01/2016
Overall trial end date
31/12/2016
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Women who are at least 18 years of age
2. Women who are at least 36 weeks pregnant or who are in the first 12 months after having given birth in the city of Zurich or Geneva
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Female
Target number of participants
420
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Women who have experienced stillbirth or whose baby is currently hospitalized at the neonatal ward
2. Women who are pregnant but hospitalized at the antenatal ward because of medical problems during their pregnancy
Recruitment start date
20/06/2016
Recruitment end date
30/10/2016
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Switzerland
Trial participating centre
University Hospital Geneva
Departement of Obstetrics
30 Boulevard de la Cluse
Geneva
1205
Switzerland
Trial participating centre
University Hospital Zurich
Departement of Obstetrics
Frauenklinikstrasse 10
Zurich
8091
Switzerland
Sponsor information
Organisation
Federal Office of Health
Sponsor details
Hessstrasse 27E
Bern
3003
Switzerland
Sponsor type
Government
Website
Funders
Funder type
Hospital/treatment centre
Funder name
University Hospital Geneva
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Planned publication of a paper discussing the difference in the utilization of information during pregnancy and participation in pregnancy activities between Swiss-nationals and non-Swiss-nationals.
Intention to publish date
30/06/2017
Participant level data
Available on request
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list