Project Title:
Pregnancy and People with Multiple Chronic Health Conditions
Lead Researchers:
Dr. Hilary Brown (University of Toronto Scarborough), Dr. Joel Ray, (Unity Health Toronto), and Dr. Simone Vigod (Women’s College Hospital)
Research Team Members:
Dr. Karen Campbell (York University), Dr. Eyal Cohen (The Hospital for Sick Children), Dr. Liz Darling (McMaster University), Dr. Cindy-Lee Dennis(University of Toronto), Dr. Sonia Grandi (The Hospital for Sick Children), Dr. Laura Rosella (University of Toronto), Dr. Catherine Varner (Mount Sinai Hospital), Dr. Jannah Wigle (University of Toronto Scarborough), and Dr. Walter Wodchis (University of Toronto).
Research Host Institution:
University of Toronto Scarborough
Background & Purpose:
In the general population, people with multiple chronic conditions are a high-risk group. They have greater acute care use and higher premature mortality than those with only one chronic condition. They often experience fragmented and uncoordinated health care. There is virtually no research or clinical guidance on the perinatal care of people with multiple chronic health conditions, with available evidence examining pregnant people with single, rather than co-occurring chronic conditions.
The Pregnancy and People with Multiple Chronic Health Conditions Study aims to create new knowledge about perinatal outcomes and care provision in individuals with multiple chronic physical and/or mental health conditions. We want to know about your pregnancy care experiences, including your care just before pregnancy, and during pregnancy, labour and birth, and the postpartum period.
Eligibility Criteria:
You can participate in this study if you:
Participation Details:
If you agree to take part in the study, you will complete an interview. You can do the interview over secure video chat (Zoom) or telephone with a researcher who has experience in chronic illness and pregnancy. The interview will take about 60 minutes.
The interview will include questions about:
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The types of care you received before pregnancy, and during pregnancy, labour and birth, and the postpartum period;
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What you liked and disliked about these care experiences;
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What you think could have made them better; and
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What you think should change about pregnancy care for people who have multiple physical and/or mental health conditions.
The interview will be audio-recorded so that we don’t lose the details of our conversation. You will get a $50 electronic gift card to thank you for your time.
Risks & Confidentiality:
Some of the questions might make you feel upset or uncomfortable. If you become upset or uncomfortable while completing the interview, you can take a break. You do not have to answer any questions that you do not want to, and you can stop the interview at any time. The researcher will give you information on supports that may help you in case you feel upset or uncomfortable.It is possible that some of the things you share could have legal risks. Sharing what the researcher believes to be an immediate risk to your safety or others, including a child, could have legal risks.
Your information will be kept as private as possible. If you agree to take part in the study, the researcher will ask for your name, mailing address, email address, and telephone number. This information will only be used to reach you about this study. You will be given a code number so that your name will stay private and will not be stored on any of your paper or computer study forms. All paper forms will be kept in a locked filing cabinet in a locked office, and all computer forms will have a password. Your name will not be used with anything you said in the interview. The information that you share will be destroyed after 10 years.
Recruitment Start Date: March 1, 2025
Recruitment End Date: May 31, 2026
Contact Details:
If you have any questions, you can contact the Study Lead, Dr. Jannah Wigle, at jannah.wigle@utoronto.ca or (647) 691-4122
For more information, check out the study recruitment flyer: Recruitment Flyer