NEWS

School of Public Health receives funding to develop computer-based education for prenatal patients

By WENDY TANSON
School of Public Health

CHAPEL HILL -- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health has received a federal grant to develop, implement and evaluate computer-based education programs for prenatal patients about genetic carrier testing.

The National Institutes of Health’s National Human Genome Research Institute awarded the 18-month, $621,451 grant to the school’s department of health behavior and health education. The grant will fund research conducted in both public health prenatal clinics and private obstetrical practices in North Carolina. Dr. James R. Sorenson, professor of health behavior and health education, is principal investigator.

"Providers of prenatal care and their patients are confronted with an ever-increasing number of prenatal genetic carrier tests," Sorenson said. "The interactive, computer-based programs we are developing will help both groups better understand screening options.

"Each test will be completely and clearly explained by the program, which patients will use before seeing their providers. If effective, the program will allow patients to have more informed discussions about genetic carrier testing and also reduce the burden on providers to present basic information. Through this unique and accessible venue, patients will gain the knowledge they need to make educated decisions about which screening options are right for them."

Lessons will cover information on several major genetic tests, such as multiple marker and advanced maternal age screening, as well as genetic carrier screening information on sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis, Thalassemia, and Canavan and Tay Sachs diseases.

Since June, Sorenson and other researchers have been working to develop the online lesson plans and are now readying the material for pilot testing in two public health clinics and two private obstetric practices. During 2003, the project will be expanded to include four sites from each setting.

"One of the important features of this study is that we will test the impact and feasibility of using the patient education in both public and private practice," Sorenson said. "We will measure the effect on clinic procedures in terms of how clients flow through the office and what services they utilize. We’ll also assess any changes in patient knowledge, decision-making and anxiety levels based on use of the education program."

If the computer-based program proves easy to navigate in practitioner settings and effective in educating women without creating apprehension, Sorenson sees broad applicability to other prenatal care settings.

"Longer-term, the program could be used anywhere that a patient receives prenatal care," he said. "In addition, because we are writing the program in a Web-enabled language, it will be possible to expand beyond the clinic setting. Health practitioners could direct their patients to the appropriate Web site, allowing 24-7 access at the patient’s convenience.

"Eventually, education about genetic testing options could be just a click away for pregnant women and their health providers."

Co-investigators include Nancy Callanan, director of the Genetic Counseling Program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Dr. Michael Bolin, associate professor of health behavior and health education; and associate professor Dr. Jeffrey Kuller and research associate professor Merry K. Moos, both of the department of obstetrics and gynecology in the School of Medicine.

The research team also includes field coordinator Tracey Jennings-Grant, project manager Jennifer Griffith, and Todd Nicolette, George Field and Andrew Ochs, all of the School of Public Health’s information and instructional systems division.

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Note: Sorenson may be reached at (919) 966-3901 or jsorenso@email.unc.edu. Callanan can be reached at (336) 256-0175 or npcallan@uncg.edu.

UNC School of Public Health contact: Lisa Katz, (919) 966-7467 or lisa_katz@unc.edu
UNC News Services contact: Deb Saine, (919) 962-8415