Support for pregnant women with opioid use disorder through doulas
Doula Support Engagement in a Population of Pregnant and Parenting Women in Drug Treatment
This study is looking at how having a doula can help pregnant women who are being treated for opioid use disorder feel better and get better care during and after their pregnancy. If you're a woman in this situation, you might be able to join and see if doula support makes a positive difference for you!
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Thomas Jefferson University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10674612 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of doula support on pregnant women who are undergoing treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). It aims to understand how doula engagement can improve healthcare utilization, maternal health outcomes, and psychosocial well-being during and after pregnancy. The study will involve enrolling up to 100 women in treatment for OUD at the Maternal Addiction Treatment Education & Research (MATER) program, where participants will be divided into groups receiving doula support or standard care. The goal is to evaluate the effectiveness of this support in addressing the unique challenges faced by these women.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant women currently receiving treatment for opioid use disorder.
Not a fit: Patients who are not pregnant or not undergoing treatment for opioid use disorder may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved maternal and infant health outcomes for women with opioid use disorder.
How similar studies have performed: While doula support has been studied in various populations, its specific application for women with opioid use disorder is relatively novel and underexplored.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Thomas Jefferson University — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gannon, Meghan — Thomas Jefferson University
- Study coordinator: Gannon, Meghan
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.