Culturally Adapted Lifestyle and Mental Health Intervention for Low-Income Pregnant Women: A Feasibility Study.
Maria Arminda Nunes, Bernadette Melnyk, Sofia Almeida and 2 others
PMID 41460526WHAT IT FOUND
Adapted COPE was feasible and acceptable for low-income pregnant women.
Lifestyle beliefs, lifestyle behaviors, and anxiety improved, while perceived stress did not change significantly. Online retention was higher, but depression scores rose again postpartum in online participants.
Key findings
01Of 69 eligible women, 45 enrolled (65.2%), and 31 completed all 7 sessions (68.9%).
02Lifestyle behavior and belief scores increased significantly over time, and GAD-7 anxiety scores declined significantly.
03Perceived stress did not change significantly (P = .228), and online depression scores increased again at postpartum follow-up.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
There was no control group, so change over time cannot be separated from pregnancy, postpartum, or other factors. The study was designed for feasibility, with a small sample and limited power to detect differences between delivery modes. Preliminary outcome analyses were reported for 30 participants, while 45 were enrolled and 31 completed all sessions. Data were self-reported, which may have overestimated lifestyle and emotional well-being changes. Participants were not able to choose in-person or online delivery, which could have affected engagement and outcomes. Follow-up ended at 4 to 6 weeks postpartum, so long-term effects are unknown. Most participants lived with the baby's father, and all were Portuguese nationals. This limits generalizability to single mothers and immigrant populations. Group delivery was difficult to coordinate; only 4 women completed the group format, so group versus individual delivery cannot be compared.
Declared interests
The study was funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology in Portugal through a doctoral grant to the first author. The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that COPE was proven effective for low-income pregnant women. This was a small feasibility study without a control group, and perceived stress did not change significantly.