Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Substance Abuse
Conditions
Keywords
fetal alcohol exposure, blood markers of alcohol use, brief intervention
Brief summary
The goal of this study was to determine whether a series of blood markers of alcohol use obtained from alcohol using pregnant women could help them to change their behavior.
Detailed description
This study involved screening pregnant women with an alcoholism screening questionnaire and obtaining blood from those women who screened positive and a subset of women who screened negative. Each woman who had blood drawn were informed of their results, educated about alcohol use in pregnancy and had a brief intervention about their alcohol use, if appropriate. They were monitored throughout the pregnancy with additional blood tests obtained, depending upon their stage in pregnancy. After birth the babies were examined for any signs of alcohol exposure.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALBrief motivational intervention
The women who have positive alcohol screening questionnaires and a random sample of women who screen negative are entered into the next phase of the study. They have blood drawn for the markers of alcohol use, are told of the results and are given brief intervention about alcohol use.
Sponsors
Massachusetts General Hospital
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Pregnant women seen at one of the obstetric clinics in the study and willing to give a blood sample
Exclusion criteria
* over 36 week gestation
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Decrease in drinking | during the pregnancy |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| improved infant size | after pregnancy finished |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed