Improving shared decision-making in maternity care for pregnant individuals

A Measure for Shared Decision Making in Maternity Care through Communicating CHOICes, CHildbirth Options, Information, and person-Centered Explanation

NIH-funded research University of Maryland Baltimore · NIH-10876983

This study is looking to improve maternity care by testing a new tool that helps make sure healthcare providers are clearly sharing options and information with new parents during pregnancy and childbirth, and it’s open to anyone who has given birth in the last six months, including Spanish speakers.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Baltimore, United States)
Project IDNIH-10876983 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research aims to enhance maternity care by developing a reliable measure for shared decision-making (SDM) from the perspective of birthing individuals. The project will test a revised measure called CHOICeS, which evaluates how well healthcare providers communicate options and information during prenatal and intrapartum care. By recruiting a diverse group of participants who have given birth in the last six months, the study seeks to ensure that the measure is culturally and linguistically appropriate, including a version in Spanish. The ultimate goal is to improve the quality of care and reduce disparities in maternity outcomes.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for participation are individuals who have given birth within the last six months and are seeking to improve their maternity care experience.

Not a fit: Patients who are not recent birthing individuals or those who do not engage in maternity care may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved communication and decision-making in maternity care, resulting in better health outcomes for birthing individuals.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in developing measures for shared decision-making in healthcare, indicating that this approach could be effective.

Where this research is happening

Baltimore, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.