Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42678625›Full record

ArticlePrevention science : the official journal of the Society for Prevention Research2026

Feasibility, Satisfaction, and Preliminary Efficacy Trial of text4FATHER for Engaging Expectant Fathers in Infant Care from Pregnancy to Early Infancy.

Arik V Marcell, Olivia Veira, Shreya Bhise, Sara B Johnson, Tim J Nelson, Alain B Labrique, Jeanne Sheffield, Dustin Gibson, Kathryn Van Eck

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Prevention science : the official journal of the Society for Prevention Research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Arik V MarcellDivision of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 200 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA. amarcell@jhu.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9873-478X
Olivia VeiraDivision of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 200 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.
Shreya BhiseDivision of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 200 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.
Sara B JohnsonDivision of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 200 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.
Tim J NelsonPrinceton University, 106 Wallace Hall, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA.
Alain B LabriqueDepartment of Population, Family & Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
Jeanne SheffieldDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 100 N Orleans St, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.
Dustin GibsonDepartment of Population, Family & Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
Kathryn Van EckKennedy Krieger Institute, 707 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.

Funding

Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of Text4Father for improving infant and family healthR21HD097453 · NICHD · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · PI MARCELL, ARIK V · 2019 to 2020
$376k
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development R21HD097453NICHD NIH HHS R21 HD097453
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Engaging fathers perinatally improves infant outcomes and parent well-being, yet few strategies share evidence with fathers. We explored the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of text4FATHER-a texting intervention designed to improve fathers' infant care beliefs, self-efficacy, behaviors, and partner support from mid-pregnancy to 2 months post-birth. In this exploratory pilot randomized controlled trial, 97 adult expectant fathers with less than a college degree were randomized to receive text4FATHER or not. Self-reported outcomes by fathers and mothers were assessed at baseline (mid-pregnancy) and 2 months post-birth. We analyzed intent-to-treat effects using random coefficient regression models. We found recruiting expectant fathers feasible; of eligible father-mother dyads, 123/163 consented (recruitment feasibility = 68%). All intervention fathers (100%) reported being satisfied with text4FATHER; 100% of mothers of intervention fathers also reported satisfaction with the father getting texts. First-time fathers' antenatal attachment beliefs and coparenting support were higher in text4FATHER condition vs. control from baseline to 7-month follow-up; increases in first-time fathers' confidence in fathering and infant care were also observed-the latter finding was corroborated by partners of first-time fathers. text4FATHER is a promising intervention, particularly for first-time expectant fathers with lower educational levels who have no natural clinical or public health touchpoints. Its efficacy and effectiveness should be confirmed using larger and more diverse samples.

Indexed as

ConfidenceCoparenting supportExpectant fathersInfant care behaviorsInterventionMHealthText messaging

Identifiers

PMID42678625
PMCPMC13636111

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.