Helping pregnant people get workplace protections and keep prenatal appointments
PROMOTE and TEACH
['FUNDING_R01'] · DUKE UNIVERSITY · NIH-11145892
This project trains obstetric clinic teams to talk with pregnant patients—especially Black patients—about job protections and workplace accommodations so they can keep prenatal visits and protect their health.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | DUKE UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (DURHAM, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11145892 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Clinics will be randomly assigned to receive PROMOTE, a provider training that teaches obstetric teams how to counsel patients about employment rights and accommodations during pregnancy and postpartum. The team will collect medical record data, patient surveys, and interviews to see whether counseling increases access to accommodations, prevents wage or advancement loss, and improves appointment adherence. The work builds on earlier qualitative and pilot work with Black pregnant patients who reported choosing between income and care. Results will inform a larger effort to measure maternal and infant health outcomes linked to this approach.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Pregnant people who receive prenatal care at participating obstetric clinics—especially those who work for pay and those from Black communities—are the ideal candidates for this work.
Not a fit: People who are not working during pregnancy or who do not get care at participating clinics are unlikely to see direct benefits from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may receive better counseling about workplace rights and more accommodations, helping them attend prenatal care and potentially improving maternal and baby health.
How similar studies have performed: Provider-training and counseling programs have shown promise in improving clinician counseling and appointment adherence, and PROMOTE has preliminary pilot data but this cluster randomized trial is a larger test.
Where this research is happening
DURHAM, UNITED STATES
- DUKE UNIVERSITY — DURHAM, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: WHEELER, SARAHN — DUKE UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: WHEELER, SARAHN
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.