Knowledge and Perception of Patients Regarding a Postpartum Standardized Hypertensive Disorder Educational Program

Authors

• Arin Everett, University of Chicago Medicine
• Niranjana Balu, University of Nebraska Medical CenterFollow
• Santiago Ortiz Barragan, University of Nebraska Medical Center
• Marly Azzi, University of Chicago Medicine
• Sanela Potchileev, University of Chicago Medicine
• Courtney Bisson, University of Chicago Medicine
• Ariel Mueller, University of Chicago Medicine
• Lea Runesha, University of Chicago Medicine
• Sajid Shahul, University of Chicago Medicine
• Sarosh Rana, University of Nebraska Medical CenterFollow

Corresponding Author

Sarosh Rana, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE- 68198-3255, USA. Email: srana@unmc.edu

Document Type

Original Research

Disciplines

Higher Education | Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract

Background. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are a major contributor to rising maternal mortality in the United States. The postpartum period represents a critical window to provide education aimed at reducing the risks of complications. This study evaluates the patients’ understanding of HDP and their retention of key education concepts during the first six weeks postpartum after participation in a structured quality improvement program.

Methods. Prospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with HDP were enrolled in the remote blood pressure monitoring program (RPM) and delivered between June 2023 and January 2024. Baseline surveys were administered prior to discharge and repeated at six weeks postpartum.

Results. A total of 109 patients were enrolled; 99 patients completed the baseline survey, and 32 completed the six-week survey. Participants self-reported Black race in 60.6% of cases, and the median age was 31 years. At baseline, most patients correctly identified normal blood pressure values (e.g., 74.8% classified 120/76 as normal. Only 2% classified 170/112 as normal (3.03% Black vs 0% non-Black; p = 0.55). Recognition of headache as a warning symptom of preeclampsia to alert the care team was high (58.6%). At six weeks postpartum, knowledge remained stable (p > 0.05). No significant differences were observed between Black and non-Black patients in knowledge retention.

Conclusion. Among a diverse group of women with a diagnosis of HDP, results suggest that preeclampsia education was well retained at six weeks postpartum. Educational outcomes did not differ by race, suggesting equitable delivery and uptake of the intervention.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.32873/unmc.dc.gmerj.8.1.002

Keywords

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, postpartum hypertension, education, retention

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Everett, A., Balu, N., Ortiz Barragan, S., Azzi, M., Potchileev, S., Bisson, C., Mueller, A., Runesha, L., Shahul, S., , Rana, S. Knowledge and Perception of Patients Regarding a Postpartum Standardized Hypertensive Disorder Educational Program. Graduate Medical Education Research Journal. 2026 May 30; 8(1).
https://digitalcommons.unmc.edu/gmerj/vol8/iss1/2