Trial reportBMC public health2022
The effect of a locally tailored intervention on the uptake of preconception care in the Netherlands: a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial (APROPOS-II study).
Trial report in BMC public health, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Tailored interventions to address determinants of practice.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2026Pooled it
- Behavior changes to promote preconception health: a systematic review.BMC women's health · 2025Pooled it
- Premarital Preventive Examinations and Access to Genetic Counselling in the South-Central Region of Bulgaria: Implications for Preconception and Child Health.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Knowledge, attitudes, and needs concerning fertility and preconceptional health in Germany-insights from a pilot survey.Wiener medizinische Wochenschrift (1946) · 2026Article
- Effect of a digital dietary intervention on diet quality in young adults in Norway - The PREPARED randomised controlled trial.BMC nutrition · 2026Article
- Young adults' experience with using a web based digital resource to promote healthy preconception diet.BMC nutrition · 2025Article
- Maternal health agency in women with a low socioeconomic status: a qualitative study.International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being · 2024Article
- Innovations in Preconception Care: Optimizing Health for All Individuals.Journal of midwifery & women's healthReview
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe preconception period provides a window of opportunity for interventions aiming to reduce unhealthy lifestyle behaviours and their negative effect on pregnancy outcomes. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a locally tailored preconception care (PCC) intervention in a hybrid-II effectiveness implementation design.
methodsA stepped-wedge cluster randomized controlled trial was performed in four Dutch municipalities. The intervention contained a social marketing strategy aiming to improve the uptake (prospective parents) and the provision (healthcare providers) of PCC. Prospective parents participated by administering a questionnaire in early pregnancy recalling their preconceptional behaviours. Experiences of healthcare providers were also evaluated through questionnaires. The composite primary outcome was adherence to at least three out of four preconceptional lifestyle recommendations (early initiation of folic acid supplements, healthy nutrition, no smoking or alcohol use). Secondary outcomes were preconceptional lifestyle behaviour change, (online) reach of the intervention and improved knowledge among healthcare providers.
resultsA total of 850 women and 154 men participated in the control phase and 213 women and 39 men in the intervention phase. The composite primary outcome significantly improved among women participating in the municipality where the reach of the intervention was highest (Relative Risk (RR) 1.57 (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.11-2.22). Among women, vegetable intake had significantly improved in the intervention phase (RR 1.82 (95%CI 1.14-2.91)). The aimed online reach- and engagement rate of the intervention was achieved most of the time. Also, after the intervention, more healthcare providers were aware of PCC-risk factors (54.5% vs. 47.7%; p = 0.040) and more healthcare providers considered it easier to start a conversation about PCC (75.0% vs. 47.9%; p = 0.030).
conclusionThe intervention showed some tentative positive effects on lifestyle behaviours among prospective parents. Primarily on vegetable intake and the knowledge and competence of healthcare providers. The results of this study contribute to the evidence regarding successfully implementing PCC-interventions to optimize the health of prospective parents and future generations.
trial registrationDutch Trial Register: NL7784 (Registered 06/06/2019).
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