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The Centering
plus Oral Health program in the Bluegrass Clinic of the
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology is an innovative, new
clinical program that will initially focus on the Hispanic
population of the clinic. The program is not designed to be
a research program but as an alternative mode of prenatal care
in the department. The research component will be to
evaluate the clinical outcomes of the Centering plus Oral
Health program when compared with clinical outcomes of
Hispanic women who have not taken part in the program. It
is anticipated that, over a 2 year period, approximately 400
Hispanic women will elect to participate in the new program.
Data from a similar number of age matched Hispanic women who
have not taken part in the program will be used as controls.
With an anticipated rate of preterm birth of 10-15% in
Hispanics, we expect approximately 60 women receiving normal
care to deliver preterm (<37weeks). We believe that women
going through the Centering plus oral health program will
deliver preterm at a reduced rate based on the previously
demonstrated independent benefits of Centering and improved
oral health.
Hispanic women presenting for prenatal care in the Bluegrass
clinic of the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the
Chandler Medical Center, will be offered participation in the
new program or in the standard prenatal program. Women will
not be randomized to either program. Women selecting
participation in either program will be asked to sign consent
and HIPAA forms for access to their clinical prenatal and
birthing data. Women requesting participation in the new
program will go through the Centering group prenatal care
program and in addition, will receive dental education and
periodontal therapy and oral health education from a
hygienist. All required professional care will be provided by
a nurse midwife and obstetrical faculty and residents. Spanish
speaking nurses and support staff will be present for
non-English speaking women.
The comparison between traditional and new programs will be
continued for a period of 2-3 years. |
