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Reproductive Health CHOICES for Young Adults with Sickle Cell Disease or Trait: Randomized Controlled Trial Outcomes over Two Years
Author(s) -
Gallo Agatha M.,
Wilkie Diana J.,
Yao Yingwei,
Molokie Robert E.,
Stahl Christiane,
Hershberger Patricia E.,
Zhao Zhongsheng,
Suarez Marie L.,
Johnson Bonnye,
Angulo Rigoberto,
Carrasco Jesus,
Angulo Veronica,
Thompson Alexis A.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of genetic counseling
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.867
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1573-3599
pISSN - 1059-7700
DOI - 10.1007/s10897-015-9874-0
Subject(s) - randomized controlled trial , psychological intervention , medicine , intervention (counseling) , sickle cell trait , disease , reproductive health , public health , trait , young adult , family medicine , gerontology , demography , population , psychiatry , nursing , environmental health , sociology , computer science , programming language
Interventions to assist reproductive health decision‐making in populations affected by sickle cell disease (SCD) or trait (SCT) lack proven efficacy over time. Our aim was to compare effects of CHOICES, a Web‐based multimedia education program on implementing informed reproductive plans, and usual care education (e‐Book) on reproductive knowledge, intention, and behavior over 24 months. We randomized 234 participants with SCD ( n = 138) or SCT ( n = 96) (age 18–35 years, 35 % male, 94 % African American) to CHOICES and e‐Book groups. Participants completed a sickle cell‐specific reproductive measure before and four times after the intervention (6, 12, 18 and 24 months). Compared to the e‐Book group the CHOICES group had significantly more improvement in knowledge over time ( p = .004) but not intention ( p = .18) or behavior ( p = .69). At baseline, 114 (48.7 %) participants reported having partners who would not put the couple at risk for their children inheriting SCD. Of the 116 (49.6 %) at ‐ risk participants, a higher poroportion of those who were in the CHOICES group chose partners that reduced their risk by the last visit than the e‐Book group ( p = .04). Study findings provide important insights for designing a national trial of the CHOICES intervention focusing on subjects whose partner status puts them at risk for having a child with SCD.