Virtually Delivered Psychosocial Intervention for Prenatally Diagnosed Congenital Heart Disease: Feasibility and Acceptability of HEARTPrep.

ABSTRACT

Prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD) often leads to anxiety, depression, and traumatic stress in expectant mothers, with long-term implications for the child and family. However, psychosocial intervention is rarely incorporated into prenatal care. HEARTPrep is a virtually delivered psychosocial intervention aimed at reducing distress and social isolation and increasing parenting self-efficacy and hope for mothers expecting a baby with CHD to promote long-term child/family well-being. This study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of HEARTPrep. Participants were mothers receiving cardiology care for a fetal CHD diagnosis. Partners could participate with the mother. HEARTPrep was delivered through a mobile app and telehealth. Feasibility was assessed through enrollment/retention rates. Acceptability was assessed through 20 Likert-scale and five open-ended questions. Of 39 recruited mothers, 35 (90%) enrolled. Half of partners (48%) also participated. Twenty-seven of 35 enrolled mothers (77%) completed HEARTPrep. On a scale from 0 (Not at All) to 4 (Very), mean item acceptability scores ranged from 3.5 to 3.9. Mothers reported HEARTPrep helped them feel less distressed (mean 3.74), less alone (3.84), more prepared (3.89), and more hopeful (3.84). Opportunities to process emotions, develop coping skills, learn with their partner, navigate relationships, understand they are not alone, connect with peer support, access resources, and prepare for stressors were described as helpful. HEARTPrep is feasible and acceptable for mothers expecting a baby with CHD. Future research will evaluate its efficacy in preventing/reducing maternal mental health problems and improving postnatal clinical outcomes.