This is a pilot longitudinal mixed-methods study of pregnant women (n=20) who participate in CPC+Y at the VCU Health System Nelson Clinic or the Virginia Department of Health Richmond Health District's prenatal clinic (RHD) during their pregnancies. This pilot project will provide the necessary preliminary data to fuel an appropriately powered randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effects of CPC+Y in controlling weight gain, enhancing stress resilience, and improving maternal-child outcomes among overweight/obese diverse women. Because increasing physical activity has been found to have important mental health effects and maternal-child outcomes, it stands to reason that this innovative intervention has the potential to impact the way prenatal care is delivered in high risk populations.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
40
Gentle prenatal yoga for 30 minutes at the end of the Centering Pregnancy Care session
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing
Richmond, Virginia, United States
Feasibility of Retention/ Adherence
Numbers of women who stayed in the study through their pregnancy and attended all intervention sessions
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 20 weeks
Self-efficacy for Physical Activity
Physical Activity Self-Efficacy Scale (PASES): The Physical Activity Self-Efficacy Scale (PASES) is an 8 question scale which contains items about SM of physical activities and social support regarding PA. This psychometrically sound scale was selected because of its specific focus on SM of PA. Originally designed for adolescents, the wording has been slightly adapted for an adult sample. A higher score indicates higher levels of self-efficacy. Lowest possible score is 8; highest possible score is 40. Only participants in the intervention arm receive this particular instrument.
Time frame: baseline (early pregnancy), end of pregnancy (approx 10 months)
Salivary Biomarkers (α-amylase)
salivary biomaker measure. This is an exploratory measure related to acute stress, yet it does not currently have known clinical associations with certain numeric levels of this measure (i.e., there is no identified "high" or "low" level of alpha-amylase). Only collected in the intervention group.
Time frame: baseline (early pregnancy), mid-pregnancy (approx 4-5 months), end of pregnancy (approx 10 months)
Depressive Symptoms
Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ9): The PHQ-9 includes self-report items regarding depressive symptoms over the past two weeks. Total scores range from 0-27, where 0-4 indicates minimal depression, 5-9 mild depressive symptoms, 10-14 moderate depressive symptoms, 15-19 moderately severe depressive symptoms, and ≥20 severe depressive symptoms.
Time frame: baseline (early pregnancy), end of pregnancy (approx 10 months)
Stress
Perceived Stress Scale (PSS): The Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10), a widely used, psychometrically sound instrument, will assess the degree to which a participant perceives stress in her life during the past month. The PSS-10 asks respondents to report about feelings such as unpredictability, uncontrollability, and overloading of stress in their lives; scores range from 0-40; higher scores correspond to a higher perceived stress level.
Time frame: baseline (early pregnancy), end of pregnancy (approx 10 months)
Number of Subjects Participating in Focus Group
Women will volunteer to discuss their experiences (acceptability) with the intervention through focus groups conducted following the intervention period
Time frame: at intervention completion, an average of 20 weeks
Recruitment Feasibility
Numbers of women who agreed to participate in the study;
Time frame: at intervention completion, an average of 20 weeks
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