Women's views of their experiences in the CHIPS (Control of Hypertension in Pregnancy Study) Pilot Trial.
BACKGROUND
Satisfaction with maternity care is strongly related to the patient-caregiver relationship and involvement in the decision-making process. We sought to compare women's views about their care in a randomized trial of 'less tight' vs. 'tight' control of non-proteinuric pre-existing or gestational hypertension in pregnancy.


METHODS
In the CHIPS Pilot Trial, women completed a postpartum questionnaire to assess their likes and dislikes about their blood pressure (BP) management and trial participation. Comparisons were descriptive.


RESULTS
Baseline information was similar for the 'less tight' and 'tight' control groups. Of 132 women, 126 (95.5%) from 17 centers completed a postpartum questionnaire, usually within days of delivery. At least 90% of women in both groups were satisfied with their care, and would be willing to participate again or recommend participation to a friend. Women in both the 'less tight' and 'tight' groups were satisfied with BP management (98.4% vs. 95.1%), and the frequency of tests of maternal and fetal well being. Half of women in both groups perceived that their BP was too high and that caregivers thought that their BP was too high. More women in the 'less tight' (vs. the 'tight') control group took less medication than expected (71.7% vs. 38.2%). More women in the 'tight' (vs. the 'less tight') group took more medication than they expected (60.0% vs. 22.2%). At least 60% of all women used home BP monitoring.


CONCLUSIONS
In the CHIPS Pilot Trial, while women stated that they were satisfied with their BP management and care, a surprising 50% in both groups thought that their BP was too high. The majority of women used home BP monitoring, the role of which must be further defined in hypertensive pregnancies.
Magee
L A
LA
Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. LMagee@cw.bc.ca
von Dadelszen
P
P
Chan
S
S
Gafni
A
A
Gruslin
A
A
Helewa
M
M
Hewson
S
S
Kavuma
E
E
Lee
S K
SK
Logan
A G
AG
McKay
D
D
Moutquin
J-M
JM
Ohlsson
A
A
Rey
E
E
Ross
S
S
Singer
J
J
Willan
A R
AR
Hannah
M E
ME
Group
For The Chips Pilot Trial Collaborative
FT
D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D008499:Medical Records; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010358:Patient Participation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012107:Research Design; D012648:Self Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents