Development and pilot test of a pregnancy decision making tool for women with physical disabilities

Abstract

Objective: Design and pilot test a new decision making tool for women with physical disabilities (impairment of physical function due to chronic conditions) considering pregnancy.Data Sources and Study Setting: Quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews were collected from participants living in the community.Study Design: Clinical guidelines and survey and focus group data about pregnancy informational and decisional needs guided content development. The tool was pilot tested in a 12-week trial with participants with physical disabilities considering or actively planning a pregnancy. Feasibility outcomes were acceptability, implementation, and demand (collected at end of the trial); preliminary efficacy focused on decisional conflict and readiness (baseline, 6 weeks, and end of trial).Data Collection: Survey data were collected using an online form. One-on-one interviews were conducted to learn more about experience using the tool.Principal Findings: Thirty eight participants with mild, moderate, or severe physical disabilities participated. Feasibility outcomes indicated that the tool provided participants with information, guiding questions, and helped them to consider multiple aspects of the decision about pregnancy. Most participants responded positively to the new decision making tool, finding it easy to use and the information balanced.Feedback highlighted opportunity for improvement, such as more specific information, peer stories, and the limitations of a paper format. There was significant linear effect of time, with increased decisional certainty and readiness, values clarity, and decisional support (partial η 2 [90% CI] = 0.

Inclusive Special Needs Education and Happiness of Students with Physical Disabilities in Saudi Arabia: The Role of School Satisfaction and Self-Concept

“…This current study sustains this effort and tries to provide an operational approach to effective inclusive special needs education in Saudi Arabia by testing some of its relevant practices as well as their effects and benefits on the well-being, school satisfaction, and self-concept of physically disabled students in secondary and high school in Saudi Arabia. Physically disabled students are those who lose physical function or have an impairment of their physical function due to an accident or illness, which can limit some important life activities [31].…”

Continuing to chart the course toward improved reproductive care for women with chronic conditions

“…Finally, Kalpakijian et al's research aligns well with the Roadmap's call for improved communication through bi-directional education and building trust. 11 The authors' work focuses on building patientprovider communication and enhancing women with a physical disability's capacity to make fully informed decisions about childbearing through the design and testing of a pregnancy decision-making tool.…”