Innovative study may have major future impact on maternal-infant health
The National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Nursing Research (NIH/NINR) has awarded Shannon Gillespie, PhD, RN, assistant professor at The Ohio State University College of Nursing, and Seuli Brill, MD, FAAP, FACP, associate professor at the Ohio State University College of Medicine, a five-year, $3.8 million grant to study how models of postpartum primary care affect the health of mothers and infants during the first year after childbirth.
Their clinical trial, entitled "The mom and infant outcomes study: A trial of perinatal outpatient delivery systems” (The MOMI Study) aims to produce critical data toward addressing pregnancy-related illness and death, which has more than doubled over the last twenty years, particularly among minoritized and low-income populations.
"Our long-term goal is to reduce risk for pregnancy-related illness and death by systematically delivering exceptional care to mothers and infants using models that are effective, equitable, and scalable," Gillespie explained. "By critically considering how care is delivered, we hope to address the alarming and persistent socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic disparities in pregnancy-related illness and death witnessed in nations such as the United States and improve overall maternal and infant health outcomes."
Co-investigators for this project include Kamilah Dixon, PhD; McKenzie Jancsura, PhD, RN; Alicia Bunger, PhD; and Lai Wei, PhD, MS. Together, this transdisciplinary team will compare two approaches to maternal and infant care during the year after childbirth, particularly among mothers and infants that are transitioning out of high-risk pregnancy. While the approaches both offer the standard components of primary care, they differ based on how patients are scheduled, how healthcare providers communicate, how the health history informs care, and how referrals are made. In a randomized controlled study like the MOMI Study, participants will be assigned to a model of care, and their health will be tracked over time and compared.
If successful, findings from this clinical trial will be disseminated through the Ohio Care Innovation and Community Improvement Program (CICIP) and the state's Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) network. The MOMI Study aligns with relevant state and national initiatives on maternal health innovation and evidence-based practice and equity, many of which aim to prevent and better address complications during pregnancy and postpartum.
Gillespie shared that this research is more than a research project; it's a calling driven by her experiences. "I became a nurse 15 years ago, inspired by the loss of my mother at a young age," said Gillespie. "Being part of this remarkable team and having the opportunity to contribute to improving the care of every mother and baby is a deeply personal and meaningful endeavor for me."
