Utilizing Electronic Modules to Educate on Sexual Health Practices During Pregnancy
Utilizing Electronic Modules to Educate on Sexual Health Practices During Pregnancy
This study looks at whether an interactive online education module can improve knowledge, comfort, and communication about sexual health during pregnancy. Many pregnant individuals experience changes in sexual function and intimacy but may feel uncomfortable discussing these topics or may have misconceptions about what is safe during pregnancy.
Participants who are pregnant and receiving routine prenatal care will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will complete an interactive, evidence-based educational module focused on sexual health and intimacy during pregnancy. The other group will review a standard educational article from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) about sexual activity during pregnancy.
Participants will complete surveys before and after reviewing the educational material, as well as a follow-up survey two weeks later. These surveys will measure knowledge about sexual health during pregnancy, comfort discussing sexual concerns with healthcare providers, and sexual function. The goal of this study is to determine whether an interactive educational approach can better support pregnant individuals' understanding of sexual health and encourage open communication with healthcare providers during pregnancy.
This is a prospective, randomized controlled study designed to evaluate the effectiveness of an interactive educational module on sexual health knowledge, comfort with communication, and sexual function during pregnancy.
Pregnant participants receiving routine prenatal care at the Loyola University Medical Center outpatient women's health clinic will be recruited during clinic visits. Eligible participants will be adults aged 18 years or older with a low-risk pregnancy at or beyond 12 weeks' gestation who are English-speaking and able to read English. Individuals with pregnancy complications requiring management by maternal-fetal medicine or with contraindications to sexual activity during pregnancy will be excluded.
Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to one of two study arms. The intervention group will complete a pre-test survey, view an interactive, evidence-based educational module addressing sexual health, intimacy, and common misconceptions during pregnancy, and then complete an immediate post-test survey. The control group will complete a pre-test survey, review a standard ACOG educational article on sexual activity during pregnancy, and then complete an immediate post-test survey. All participants will receive a follow-up survey two weeks after the initial intervention.
Primary outcomes include changes in knowledge about sexual health during pregnancy. Secondary outcomes include changes in comfort discussing sexual concerns with healthcare providers and changes in sexual function as measured by the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Survey data will be collected electronically using REDCap and analyzed using a per-protocol approach.
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
MLYNN@lumc.edu708-327-1450