Engagement with a Text-Based, Bilingual Blood Pressure Monitoring Program during Postpartum among a Multiethnic Population.

Abstract

Purpose: Research on remote monitoring for postpartum patients is lacking, particularly in a Spanish speaking population. We examined satisfaction and engagement with remote blood pressure monitoring by preferred language and other participant characteristics.

Study design and methods: This was an observational longitudinal cohort study of n = 388 Asian, Black, and Hispanic postpartum patients from four hospitals from Philadelphia and New York City recruited between 2022 and 2023. English and Spanish speaking patients were enrolled. Participants were asked to track their blood pressures for 12 weeks after birth via a two-way text platform. We examined engagement with the platform (≥70% response to text prompts).

Results: Most participants reported satisfaction with the program, with 92.0% of English speakers and 96.4% of Spanish speakers reporting satisfaction. Spanish speakers were more likely to engage in the program than English speakers (risk ratio: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.44; adjusted risk ratio: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.46).

Clinical implications: Among Spanish speakers, text-message-based remote blood pressure monitoring during the postpartum period was satisfactory. Spanish speakers were just as, if not more, likely than English speakers to engage in the remote monitoring program, suggesting the potential utility of remote monitoring for postpartum follow-up among a population at increased risk of adverse maternal outcomes.