Amy Judy, MD

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Perinatal mood disorders are common yet underdiagnosed and un- or undertreated. Barriers exist to accessing perinatal mental health services, including limited availability, time, and cost. Automated conversational agents (chatbots) can deliver evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy content through text message-based conversations and reduce depression and anxiety symptoms in select populations. Such digital mental health technologies are poised to overcome barriers to mental health care access but need to be evaluated for efficacy, as well as for preliminary feasibility and acceptability among perinatal populations.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the acceptability and preliminary efficacy of a mental health chatbot for mood management in a general postpartum population.STUDY DESIGN: An unblinded randomized controlled trial was conducted at a tertiary academic center. English-speaking postpartum women aged 18 years or above with a live birth and access to a smartphone were eligible for enrollment prior to discharge from delivery hospitalization. Baseline surveys were administered to all participants prior to randomization to a mental health chatbot intervention or to usual care only. The intervention group downloaded the mental health chatbot smartphone application with perinatal-specific content, in addition to continuing usual care. Usual care consisted of routine postpartum follow up and mental health care as dictated by the patient's obstetric provider. Surveys were administered during delivery hospitalization (baseline) and at 2-, 4-, and 6-weeks postpartum to assess depression and anxiety symptoms. The primary outcome was a change in depression symptoms at 6-weeks as measured using two depression screening tools: Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Secondary outcomes included anxiety symptoms measured using Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and satisfaction and acceptability using validated scales. Based on a prior study, we estimated a sample size of 130 would have sufficient (80%) power to detect a moderate effect size (d=.4) in between group difference on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9.RESULTS: A total of 192 women were randomized equally 1:1 to the chatbot or usual care; of these, 152 women completed the 6-week survey (n=68 chatbot, n=84 usual care) and were included in the final analysis. Mean baseline mental health assessment scores were below positive screening thresholds. At 6-weeks, there was a greater decrease in Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scores among the chatbot group compared to the usual care group (mean decrease=1.32, standard deviation=3.4 vs mean decrease=0.13, standard deviation=3.01, respectively). 6-week mean Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scores did not differ between groups and were similar to baseline. 91% (n=62) of the chatbot users were satisfied or highly satisfied with the chatbot, and 74% (n=50) of the intervention group reported use of the chatbot at least once in 2 weeks prior to the 6-week survey. 80% of study participants reported being comfortable with the use of a mobile smartphone application for mood management.CONCLUSION: Use of a chatbot was acceptable to women in the early postpartum period. The sample did not screen positive for depression at baseline and thus the potential of the chatbot to reduce depressive symptoms in this population was limited. This study was conducted in a general obstetric population. Future studies of longer duration in high-risk postpartum populations who screen positive for depression are needed to further understand the utility and efficacy of such digital therapeutics for that population.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.xagr.2023.100165

View details for PubMedID 37560011

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Mothers spend long hours at their preterm infant's bedside in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), giving clinicians the opportunity to engage mothers in caring for their own health.OBJECTIVE: To develop a NICU based intervention to reduce the risk of a future premature birth by engaging and empowering mothers to improve their own health and identify barriers to implementing their improvement.DESIGN: Development based on a framework of narrative discourse refined by the Quality Improvement Plan Do Study Act Approach.SETTING: Level II Stepdown Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.PARTICIPANTS: 14 mothers of preterm infants, ages 24-39 years.METHODS: A team of Maternal Fetal Medicine Physicians, obstetricians, neonatologists, neonatal nurses, and parents developed guidelines to elicit the mother's birth story, review the story with a clinical expert to fill in knowledge gaps, identify strategies to improve health to reduce the risk of future preterm birth, and facilitate mother developing an action plan with specific six week goals. A phone interview was designed to assess success and identify barriers to implementing their health plan. The protocol was modified as needed after each intervention to improve the interventions.RESULTS: "Moms in the NICU" toolkit is effective to guide any clinical facilitator to engage, identify health improvement strategies, and co-develop an individualized health plan and its take home summary reached stability after the 5th mother. Mothers reported experiencing reassurance, understanding, and in some cases, relief. Participants were enthusiastic to inform future quality improvement activities by sharing the six week barriers faced implementing their health plan.CONCLUSION: Engaging in the NICU provides an opportunity to improve mothers' understanding of potential factors that may be linked to preterm birth, and promote personally selected actions to improve their health and reduce the risk of a future preterm birth.

View details for DOI 10.1186/s12884-023-05738-8

View details for PubMedID 37301839

View details for Web of Science ID 000909337400230

View details for Web of Science ID 000737459401488

Abstract

Ampicillin is used for multiple peripartum indications including prevention of neonatal group beta streptococcus (GBS) and treatment of chorioamnionitis. Despite its widespread use in obstetrics, existing pharmacokinetic data for ampicillin do not address contemporary indications or dosing paradigms for this population. We sought to characterize the pharmacokinetic profile of ampicillin administered to laboring women.Using whole blood dried blood spot sampling technique, maternal blood samples were collected at specified times from 31 women receiving IV ampicillin for peripartum indications. Women received either a 2-g loading dose with 1-g administered every 4 h (GBS), or 2-g every 6 h (chorioamnionitis). Pharmacokinetics were analyzed via a population approach with non-linear mixed-effect modeling.The data were best described by a two-compartment model with first-order elimination, with the following whole blood parameters: central volume of distribution (V1) 75.2 L (95% CI 56.3-93.6), clearance (CL) 82.4 L/h (95% CI 59.7-95.7), inter-compartmental clearance (Q) 20.9 L/h (95% CI 16.2-38.2), and peripheral volume of distribution (V2) 61.1 L (95% CI 26.1-310.5). Inter-patient variation in CL and V1 was large (42.0% and 56.7% respectively). Simulations of standard dosing strategies demonstrated over 98% of women are predicted to achieve an estimated free plasma concentration above MIC 0.5 mcg/mL for more than 50% of the dosing interval.Although large variation in the pharmacokinetics of ampicillin in pregnant women exists, as predicted by our model, current standard dosing strategies achieve adequate exposure for GBS in nearly all patients.

View details for DOI 10.1055/a-1674-6394

View details for PubMedID 34670320

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical characteristics of stroke and opportunities to improve care in a cohort of preeclampsia-related maternal mortalities in California.METHODS: The California Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review retrospectively examined a cohort of preeclampsia pregnancy-related deaths in California from 2002 to 2007. Stroke cases were identified among preeclampsia deaths, and case summaries were reviewed with attention to clinical variables, particularly hypertension. Health care provider- and patient-related contributing factors were also examined.RESULTS: Among 54 preeclampsia pregnancy-related deaths that occurred in California from 2002 to 2007, 33 were attributed to stroke. Systolic blood pressure exceeded 160 mm Hg in 96% of cases, and diastolic blood pressure was 110 or higher in 65% of cases. Hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count syndrome was present in 38% (9/24) of cases with available laboratory data; eclampsia occurred in 36% of cases. Headache was the most frequent symptom (87%) preceding stroke. Elevated liver transaminases were the most common laboratory abnormality (71%). Only 48% of women received antihypertensive treatment. A good-to-strong chance to alter outcome was identified in stroke cases 66% (21/32), with delayed response to clinical warning signs in 91% (30/33) of cases and ineffective treatment in 76% (25/33) cases being the most common areas for improvement.CONCLUSION: Stroke is the major cause of maternal mortality associated with preeclampsia or eclampsia. All but one patient in this series of strokes demonstrated severe elevation of systolic blood pressure, whereas other variables were less consistently observed. Antihypertensive treatment was not implemented in the majority of cases. Opportunities for care improvement exist and may significantly affect maternal mortality.

View details for DOI 10.1097/AOG.0000000000003290

View details for PubMedID 31135728

Abstract

This study aimed to develop a valid and reliable TeamOBS-PPH tool for assessing clinical performance in the management of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). The tool was evaluated using video-recordings of teams managing PPH in both real-life and simulated settings.A Delphi panel consisting of 12 obstetricians from the UK, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and Denmark achieved consensus on (i) the elements to include in the assessment tool, (ii) the weighting of each element, and (iii) the final tool. The validity and reliability were evaluated according to Cook and Beckman. (Level 1) Four raters scored four video-recordings of in situ simulations of PPH. (Level 2) Two raters scored 85 video-recordings of real-life teams managing patients with PPH 1000 mL in two Danish hospitals. (Level 3) Two raters scored 15 video-recordings of in situ simulations of PPH from a US hospital.The tool was designed with scores from 0 to 100. (Level 1) Teams of novices had a median score of 54 (95% CI 48-60), whereas experienced teams had a median score of 75 (95% CI 71-79; p < 0.001). (Level 2) The intra-rater [intra-class correlation (ICC) = 0.96] and inter-rater (ICC = 0.83) agreements for real-life PPH were strong. The tool was applicable in all cases: atony, retained placenta, and lacerations. (Level 3) The tool was easily adapted to in situ simulation settings in the USA (ICC = 0.86).The TeamOBS-PPH tool appears to be valid and reliable for assessing clinical performance in real-life and simulated settings. The tool will be shared as the free TeamOBS App.

View details for PubMedID 29485679

Abstract

Retention of the placenta is an option in the management of placenta percreta; however, it may be associated with significant morbidity.We present a case of conservative management of placenta percreta. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) developed 49 days after delivery. An urgent hysterectomy was performed, followed by rapid normalization of coagulation parameters.Disseminated intravascular coagulation may complicate the conservative management of placenta percreta and can manifest weeks after delivery in the absence of antecedent hemorrhage or infection. The time course and presentation of this case are similar to the development of DIC after prolonged retention of a fetal demise with a probable shared pathophysiology. Close follow-up may facilitate prompt diagnosis of DIC, thereby minimizing associated morbidity.

View details for DOI 10.1097/AOG.0000000000000960

View details for Web of Science ID 000363974000016

View details for PubMedID 26132459