Single Arm Clinical Trial of a Smartphone-Based Symptom Monitoring and Decision Support Tool for African American and Spanish-Speaking Patients in the Near Postpartum Period

What this Trial Is About

Pregnancy-related death rates have significantly increased in the United States over the past two decades, with many cases considered preventable. This research focuses on improving awareness and decision-making among postpartum patients, especially African American and Spanish-speaking Latina women, to help them recognize warning signs and seek timely medical care. The study evaluates a mobile health approach designed to support these patients in self-monitoring symptoms and receiving guidance on when to seek help. Participants will use the Maternal Outcome Monitoring and Support (MOMS) system, a smartphone application that allows them to report symptoms related to pregnancy complications. The app provides decision support to help users decide when to contact their healthcare provider or visit an emergency room. This single-arm pilot trial assesses the feasibility and early impact of this intervention in improving patient knowledge and activation during the postpartum period. During the study, participants will engage with the MOMS app from baseline through six weeks postpartum, with researchers measuring changes in patient activation and knowledge of pregnancy-related death warning signs. The study will monitor participants remotely through the app, collecting patient-reported outcomes to evaluate how well the system supports timely care-seeking behavior. This involvement aims to improve postpartum health outcomes in diverse populations facing disparities.

Assessing the Maternal Outcome Monitoring Systems