Preeclampsia Educational Program Study (PrEPS)

Preeclampsia complicates approximately 8% of all pregnancies. A critical factor of outpatient monitoring is patient education; specifically, education regarding nature of the disease, ongoing short- and long-term risks, and warning signs and symptoms for worsening of disease. This study aims to compare patient knowledge using a novel illustration based app compared to standard discharge instructions.

Preeclampsia complicates approximately 8% of all pregnancies. While many patients improve following delivery, the disease process remains a leading cause for postpartum morbidity and mortality. A critical factor of outpatient monitoring is patient education; specifically, education regarding nature of the disease, ongoing short- and long-term risks, and warning signs and symptoms for worsening of disease. There is a gap in the literature regarding effective, patient-centered educational tools specifically addressing these elements, especially in the postpartum period.

The investigators propose a pilot, randomized controlled trial of postpartum patients with preeclampsia. The intervention of interest is an illustration-based, educational mobile device application (app) focused on the short- and long-term risks associated with preeclampsia and warning signs and symptoms of worsening disease postpartum. The control for this study will be the same information in a text-only format, also accessed through a mobile device app.

The investigators central hypothesis is that an illustration-based app will improve knowledge of preeclampsia among postpartum patients compared to text-only educational material.

Specific Aim 1: Compare the difference in preeclampsia knowledge score from text-only versus illustration-based education 24 hours post intervention (short-term). The investigators hypothesize that patients who receive illustration-based education will have a) higher preeclampsia knowledge scores at 24 hours post-intervention compared to text-only educational materials and b) a greater increase in preeclampsia knowledge score from baseline (pre-test) compared to text-only education.

Specific Aim 2: Compare the difference in preeclampsia knowledge score from text-only versus illustration-based education >4 weeks post intervention (long-term). The investigators hypothesize that patients who receive illustration-based education will have a) higher preeclampsia knowledge scores at > 4 weeks post-intervention compared to text-only educational materials and b) a greater increase in preeclampsia knowledge score from baseline (pre-test) compared to text-only education.