Psychoeducation intervention for pregnant women with gestational diabetes: A pilot study

INTERVENTION: Following diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) at 24‐28 weeks’ gestation. The researcher will enroll eligible and consenting women. The intervention will be delivered via face‐to‐face group education session once every week for four weeks with a specific topic for each week. The duration for each session will be one hour. The session includes information on gestational diabetes, diet, exercise and stress management, in the antenatal clinics. The participating women will be given a pamphlet after each session summarizing the session content. Each group will consist of 6 to 10 women. In addition to face‐to‐face group education sessions, women will receive weekly WhatsApp posts such as motivational statements, pictures, videos, and will be encouraged to interact within the groups. The face‐to‐face group education sessions will be held in a private room at the outpatient department. The researcher, who is a nurse and a lecturer in nursing school with more than 10 years' experience, will deliver the face‐to‐face sessions each week in the form of lecture, interactive activities, short videos about relaxation exercise such as deep breathing exercise. She will send a reminder before face‐to‐face session to remind women to attend the session and will use attendance checklist. The researcher will also create a WhatsApp group and will send invitation to the intervention group and will send posts and videos to reinforce and remind women about the information obtained in face‐to‐face sessions. The researcher will be the moderator of the WhatsApp group. She will encourage women to ask questions and share their experiences. A brief summary of the educational content: Week1 1‐ Welcome and orientation of the psychoeducation intervention 2‐ Defining CONDITION: Gestational diabetes mellitus;Pregnancy; ; Gestational diabetes mellitus ; Pregnancy Mental Health ‐ Anxiety Mental Health ‐ Depression Metabolic and Endocrine ‐ Diabetes Reproductive Health and Childbirth ‐ Antenatal care Reproductive Health and Childbirth ‐ Fetal medicine and complications of pregnancy PRIMARY OUTCOME: self‐efficacy measured by UK‐Diabetic Management Self‐Efficacy Scale (UK‐DMSES)[UK‐DMSES will be assessed at baseline, immediately post‐intervention (at 4th week), and 2 weeks post‐intervention completion.] INCLUSION CRITERIA: Pregnant women with singleton pregnancy with GDM. Pregnant women between 28‐32 weeks of gestation. Aged 18 years and older. Can provide written consent to participate in this research. Able to access and use WhatsApp. Able to speak, read, and write in Arabic. SECONDARY OUTCOME: Depression, anxiety and stress level measured by using Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale‐21 Items (DASS‐21)[DASS‐21 will be assessed at baseline, immediately post‐intervention (at 4th week), and 2 weeks post‐intervention completion.] Infant’s birth weight will be collected via phone call of the participants. [Within the first month after birth] Knowledge level measured by using Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Knowledge Questionnaire (GDMKQ)[GDMKQ will be assessed at baseline, immediately post‐intervention (at 4th week), and 2 weeks post‐intervention completion.] Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admission will be collected via phone call of the participants. [Within the first month after birth] Preterm birth will be collected via phone call of the participants. [Within the first month after birth] Self‐care measured by using the Summary of Diabetes Self‐Care Activities scale (SDSCA) [SDSCA will be assessed at baseline, immediately post‐intervention (at 4th week), and 2 weeks post‐intervention completion.] Type of birth will be collected via phone call of the participants. [Within the first month after birth]