Telehealth Intervention Strategies for WIC (THIS-WIC)- Michigan
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
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.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Detailed Description
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.
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Experimental: Telehealth solution Telehealth solution offered |
Behavioral: Telehealth solution
Video conferencing
|
| No Intervention: Control Usual care |
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Satisfaction with the telehealth solution [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 Outcome Measures
- Breastfeeding duration [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.
- Attendance at scheduled appointments [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.
- Dietary intake [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.
- Attitudes to breastfeeding and nutrition education [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.
- Barriers encountered in obtaining nutrition education and breastfeeding support [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.
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
-
Pregnant women
-
Breastfeeding women
-
postpartum women with children in the age range of 0 to 5 years
Exclusion Criteria:
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tufts University | Boston | Massachusetts | United States | 02111 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- Tufts University
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- State of Michigan WIC Program
- RTI International
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Erin Hennessy, PhD, Tufts University
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Additional Information:
Publications
None provided.- 202112-01-EA / STUDY00002536