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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05746741

Telehealth Intervention Strategies for WIC (THIS-WIC)- Michigan

With funding through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Tufts University's Telehealth Intervention Strategies for WIC (THIS-WIC), Michigan's (MI) WIC department will pilot telehealth opportunities as a means of delivering services to WIC Clients. This video conferencing pilot looks to improve and/or remove barriers. Implementing a pilot program in select local agencies to utilize technology would allow clients to connect with a WIC Registered Dietitian (RD) or an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Videoconferencing could open new opportunities for leveraging the extensive expertise of the nutrition and lactation workforce in WIC agencies to address rural and remote locations and travel considerations.

The purpose of this study will be to evaluate the effectiveness of this telehealth solution.

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Key information

Conditions

Telehealth Behavior Breast Feeding Dietary Intake Feeding Behavior Nutrition Education WIC

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Tufts University

Boston, Massachusetts, 02111, United States

About this study

Michigan WIC Agency will pilot telehealth opportunities as a means of delivering services to WIC Clients.This video conferencing pilot looks to improve and/or remove barriers such as negative clinic experiences (long wait times or poor customer service), lost time from work (creating job risk and lost wages), inconvenient WIC clinic locations and appointment times, and lack of transportation. Implementing a pilot program in select local agencies to utilize technology would allow clients to connect with a WIC Registered Dietitian (RD) or an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Videoconferencing could open new opportunities for leveraging the extensive expertise of the nutrition and lactation workforce in WIC agencies to address rural and remote locations and travel considerations. Additional urban locations, where clients lack transportation or use of public transportation presents a barrier to traveling to subsequent WIC appointments, will also be included in the pilot. Local agencies in rural and urban areas with similar caseloads will serve as controls to compare outcomes between offering telehealth and conducting IBCLC and RD appointments in person.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of this telehealth solution by having clients complete surveys on their comfortability using telehealth and their satisfaction with the telehealth appointment. Additionally, secondary demographic and other nutrition-related information about study participants is already collected in the MIS and will be utilized.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Pregnant women
  • Breastfeeding women
  • postpartum women with children in the age range of 0 to 5 years

Exclusion criteria

-

Treatment and study plan

Telehealth solution

Behavioral

Video conferencing

Primary outcomes

  1. Satisfaction with the telehealth solution

    Time frame: During the study period, approximately 18 months

    WIC clients satisfaction with nutrition education and breastfeeding support offered via the telehealth solution compared to usual care. Data will be collected, and this outcome measure will be assessed via survey completion by study participants.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Breastfeeding duration

    Time frame: During the study period, approximately 18 months

    Duration of breastfeeding in clients offered the telehealth solution compared to usual care. Data will be collected, and this outcome measure will be assessed via survey completion by study participants.

  2. Attendance at scheduled appointments

    Time frame: During the study period, approximately 18 months

    WIC clients attendance at appointments when offered the telehealth solution compared to usual care. Data will be collected, and this outcome measure will be assessed via survey completion by study participants.

  3. Dietary intake

    Time frame: During the study period, approximately 18 months

    Impact of the telehealth solution compared to usual care on dietary intake. Data will be collected, and this outcome measure will be assessed via survey completion by study participants.

  4. Attitudes to breastfeeding and nutrition education

    Time frame: During the study period, approximately 18 months

    Impact of the telehealth solution compared to usual care on WIC clients' attitudes to breastfeeding and nutrition education. Data will be collected, and this outcome measure will be assessed via survey completion by study participants.

  5. Barriers encountered in obtaining nutrition education and breastfeeding support

    Time frame: During the study period, approximately 18 months

    Impact of the telehealth solution compared to usual care on barriers encountered by WIC clients in obtaining nutrition education and breastfeeding support. Data will be collected, and this outcome measure will be assessed via survey completion by study participants.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Tufts University

Other

Collaborators

  • RTI International
  • State of Michigan WIC Program
  • United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2023
First posted
Feb 28, 2023
Registry last updated
May 31, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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