Kemp, L., Harris, E., McMahon, C., Matthey, S., Vimpani, G., Anderson, T., Schmied, V., & Aslam, H. (2013). Benefits of psychosocial intervention and continuity of care by child and family health nurses in the pre‐and postnatal period: Process evaluation. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 69(8), 1850–1861.
Kemp, L., Harris, E., McMahon, C., Matthey, S., Vimpani, G., Anderson, T., Schmied, V., & Aslam, H. (2012). Benefits of psychosocial intervention and continuity of care by child and family health nurses in the pre- and postnatal period: Process evaluation. Journal of Advanced Nursing. DOI: 10.1111/jan.12052
| Screening decision | Screening conclusion | HomVEE procedures and standards version |
|---|---|---|
| Passes screens | Eligible for review | Version 1 |
| Rating | Design | Attrition | Baseline equivalence | Compromised randomization | Confounding factors | Valid, reliable measure(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate | Randomized controlled trial | Low | Equivalent on SES, information on race/ethnicity not available | None | None | Not assessed in manuscripts reviewed before 2021 |
In order to receive a high rating, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with low attrition must control for race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), and, if applicable, baseline outcomes if statistically significant differences exist between treatment and control groups. In this case, there were no significant differences in terms of race/ethnicity, but we had insufficient information to assess baseline equivalence on SES because the only SES measure collected at baseline was maternal education. HomVEE prefers to see equivalence on income, earnings, or poverty levels according to federal thresholds, but also considers other measures of SES (that is, maternal education, employment, and Aid to Families with Dependent Children/Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or food stamps receipt), if at least two such alternative measures of SES are provided.
| Study participants | Pregnant women were eligible to participate if they did not require the use of an interpreter and reported at least one risk factor for poor maternal or child outcomes during routine psychosocial and domestic violence screenings conducted by midwives in a local hospital. After consenting to participate in the study, 208 eligible mothers were randomly assigned to the program (Maternal Early Childhood Sustained Home Visiting Program, or MECSH) or comparison group before baseline data were collected. One hundred eleven were assigned to MECSH and 97 to the comparison group. This study reports on prenatal and birth outcomes, as well as outcomes measured at four to six weeks postpartum. |
|---|---|
| Setting | The study was conducted in a socioeconomically disadvantaged suburb of Sydney, Australia. |
| Intervention services | Women in the intervention group received an average of 16.3 visits (range 0–52, 60 to 90 minutes long). Visits were conducted by a child health nurse. Visits began, on average, at 26 weeks gestation and continued to the child’s second birthday. Home visits included information and activities to encourage child development and linkages to community activities (such as parenting groups). |
| Comparison conditions | Women in both study conditions received usual antenatal midwifery, obstetric, and birthing services. Comparison group women were expected to receive a home visit by a child health nurse within two weeks of giving birth, in accordance with standard practice in New South Wales. |
| Subgroups examined |
This field lists subgroups examined in the manuscript (even if they were not replicated in other samples and not reported on the summary page for this model’s report). Subgroups are not listed for manuscripts reviewed before 2021. |
| Funding sources | The trial was funded by the Australian Research Council, Sydney South West Area Health Service, the New South Wales (NSW) Department of Community Services, and the NSW Department of Health. |
| Author affiliation | Lynn Kemp, a study author, is a developer of this model. |
| Peer reviewed | Peer reviewed status is not listed for manuscripts reviewed before 2021. |
Findings that rate moderate or high
| Rating | Outcome measure | Effect | Sample | Timing of follow-up | Sample size | Intervention group | Comparison group | Group difference | Effect size | Statistical significance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate | Breastfeeding fully or partially at 4 weeks | FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect |
Western Sydney | 4 weeks | 161 mothers | Unadjusted % = 58.00 | Unadjusted % = 52.10 | Difference = 5.90 | Study reported = 0.12 | Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 | |
| Moderate | Breastfeeding initiated | FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect |
Western Sydney | Birth | 202 mothers | Unadjusted % = 87.20 | Unadjusted % = 85.10 | Difference = 2.10 | Study reported = 0.06 | Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 | |
| Moderate | Infant admission to special care nursery | FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect |
Western Sydney | Birth | 203 mothers | Unadjusted % = 5.60 | Unadjusted % = 8.40 | Difference = -2.80 | Study reported = 0.12 | Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 | |
| Moderate | SIDS risk knowledge | FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect |
Western Sydney | 4 weeks | 137 mothers | Unadjusted % = 83.30 | Unadjusted % = 68.30 | Difference = 15.00 | Study reported = 0.35 | Statistically significant, p = 0.04 |
| Rating | Outcome measure | Effect | Sample | Timing of follow-up | Sample size | Intervention group | Comparison group | Group difference | Effect size | Statistical significance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate | Assisted vaginal delivery | FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect |
Western Sydney | Birth | 199 mothers | Unadjusted % = 2.80 | Unadjusted % = 9.70 | Difference = -6.90 | Study reported = 0.30 | Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 | |
| Moderate | Caesarean section | FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect |
Western Sydney | Birth | 199 mothers | Unadjusted % = 17.00 | Unadjusted % = 21.50 | Difference = -4.50 | Study reported = 0.13 | Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 | |
| Moderate | Genitourinary infection in pregnancy | FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect |
Western Sydney | Birth | 203 mothers | Unadjusted % = 19.40 | Unadjusted % = 21.30 | Difference = -1.90 | Study reported = 0.05 | Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 | |
| Moderate | Gestational diabetes | FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect |
Western Sydney | Birth | 203 mothers | Unadjusted % = 6.50 | Unadjusted % = 12.60 | Difference = -6.10 | Study reported = 0.20 | Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 | |
| Moderate | Maternal general health, very good or excellent | FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect |
Western Sydney | 4-6 weeks | 141 mothers | Unadjusted % = 51.30 | Unadjusted % = 35.40 | Difference = 15.90 | Study reported = 0.44 | Statistically significant, p = 0.03 | |
| Moderate | Pregnancy-induced hypertension | FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect |
Western Sydney | Birth | 203 mothers | Unadjusted % = 0.00 | Unadjusted % = 4.20 | Difference = -4.20 | Study reported = 0.40 | Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 | |
| Moderate | Unassisted vaginal delivery | FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect |
Western Sydney | Birth | 199 mothers | Unadjusted % = 80.20 | Unadjusted % = 68.80 | Difference = 11.40 | Study reported = 0.25 | Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05 |