Prevention of preterm birth. Role of daily telephone contact.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effectiveness of routine management of patients at high risk for preterm delivery to the effectiveness of routine management in combination with daily telephone nursing contact.


METHODS
The control group, 1 (n = 21), had education and frequent prenatal visits and cervical examinations. The study group, 2 (n = 21), had education, frequent prenatal visits and cervical examination, and daily telephone contact. Group 3 (n = 22) received education but refused to participate.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences (SD) between groups in race, smoking, age, multiple gestation, visits, diagnosis of premature labor, mean days gained after diagnosis of premature labor, tocolytic use or bed rest. There was also no SD in preterm birth rate, mode of delivery, number of maternal or neonatal hospital days, mean neonatal weight or gestational age at delivery between groups. While not reducing the overall incidence of preterm birth, this management for all groups resulted in a more advanced gestational age at the time of delivery (mean change = 7.5 weeks, P < .0001) when compared to the patient's first preterm birth.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicated that daily contact, while providing reassurance and support, did not change the outcome when the study group was compared to women managed similarly but without daily contact.
Boehm
F H
FH
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-2519, USA.
Glass
C A
CA
Reed
G W
GW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010808:Physical Examination; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone