Using health technology to improve safe sleep practices for infants
Health IT to reduce disparities in risks for sleep-related infant deaths
This study is testing a new tool to help doctors and parents learn more about safe sleep practices for babies, especially for families in the Black/African American community, to see if it makes a difference in how well they communicate and how satisfied parents feel about the information they receive.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11046534 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates the effectiveness of a new health information technology tool designed to enhance safe sleep practices for infants in a pediatric primary care setting. It focuses on a primarily Black/African American population and aims to improve both clinician guidance and parental knowledge regarding infant sleep safety. The study will involve a randomized controlled trial comparing standard care with the new Infant Sleep Assessment tool, assessing its impact on clinician communication and parental satisfaction. Data will be collected through audio recordings of clinic visits and follow-up assessments in the home environment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are parents of newborns, particularly those from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds and primarily Black/African American communities.
Not a fit: Patients who do not have newborns or those outside the targeted demographic may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the risk of sleep-related infant deaths by improving safe sleep practices among new parents.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that health information technology can effectively improve patient outcomes in similar populations, indicating a promising approach.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcdonald, Eileen M — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Mcdonald, Eileen M
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.