Effect of Partner-Conducted Fetal Heart Sound Measurement on Maternal and Paternal Attachment (FHS-ATTACH)

The Effect of Partner-Conducted Fetal Heart Sound Measurement on Maternal-Paternal Expectations and Maternal-Paternal Attachment: An Experimental Study

This randomized controlled study aims to evaluate the effect of fetal heart sound (FHS) measurement performed by the partner on prenatal maternal and paternal expectations and attachment levels. A total of 120 couples (60 intervention, 60 control) participated in the study.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Prenatal Attachment, Maternal Expectations, Paternal Involvement
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Partner-Conducted Fetal Heart Sound Measurement

Detailed Description

This experimental study was conducted to determine the effect of partner-conducted fetal heart sound (FHS) measurement on prenatal maternal and paternal expectations and attachment. The study included 120 couples (60 intervention, 60 control) whose pregnancies were between 28 and 38 weeks, and who were registered at Hasköy Family Health Center in Muş, Turkey. In the intervention group, the father was trained in Leopold maneuvers and performed the FHS measurement twice - once during 28-32 weeks and again during 33-38 weeks of gestation. Data collection tools included the Prenatal Maternity Expectations Scale, Prenatal Paternity Expectations Scale, Prenatal Attachment Inventory, and the Paternal Antenatal Attachment Scale. Data were collected before the first FHS measurement (pre-test) and after the second (post-test). The control group received standard prenatal monitoring by healthcare staff without involving the partner. The study was approved by the Malatya Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Approval No: 2022/3968).

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 120
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Malatya, Turkey
    • inonu universitesi

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

- Inclusion Criteria: Women between 28 and 38 weeks of gestation

• Age between 18 and 45 years
• Ability to read and write
• No diagnosed psychiatric illness
• Healthy pregnancy
• Attending prenatal visits with their partner

Exclusion Criteria:

• Women with diagnosed psychiatric conditions
• Couples unwilling to participate
• Incomplete data forms
• Those who moved out of the study area during follow-up
• Women without their partners during visits

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention Group; Couples who met the inclusion criteria were invited from Hasköy Family Health Center. Based on national prenatal care guidelines, two sessions were scheduled at 28-32 weeks and 33-38 weeks of gestation. Fathers were trained on Leopold maneuvers and fetal heart sound measurement. Under midwife supervision, fathers performed Leopold maneuvers and fetal heart sound measurements using a Doppler device. The intervention was applied twice.	Behavioral: Partner-Conducted Fetal Heart Sound Measurement; Expectant fathers in the intervention group were trained in basic Leopold maneuvers and fetal heart sound measurement using a Doppler device. Under the supervision of a midwife, fathers located the fetus's back, applied gel, and measured the heart sound during prenatal visits at 28-32 and 33-38 weeks of gestation.
No Intervention: Control Group; Couples in the control group received standard prenatal follow-up. At 28-32 and 33-38 weeks, data were collected using the same tools without any intervention. During routine visits, the fetal heart sound measurement and Leopold maneuvers were performed by the midwife as part of standard care.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Prenatal Paternal Attachment Level	Change in paternal attachment scores, measured using the Prenatal Paternal Attachment Scale (PPAS), before and after partner-conducted fetal heart sound measurement.	From 28-38 weeks of gestation (approximately 10 weeks)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Prenatal Maternal Attachment Level	Change in maternal attachment scores, measured using the Prenatal Attachment Inventory (PAI), before and after the intervention.	From 28-38 weeks of gestation (approximately 10 weeks)
Parental Expectations (Mother and Father)	Change in maternal and paternal expectations measured using validated Maternity and Paternity Expectation Scales before and after the intervention.	From 28-38 weeks of gestation (approximately 10 weeks)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Inonu University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 15, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 15, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): September 2, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 18, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 2, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): May 11, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 11, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 2, 2025
• Last Verified: December 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: motherhood, fatherhood, prenatal attachment, partner involvement, fetal heart sound, parental expectations
• Other Study ID Numbers: 10576553

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: There is no plan to share individual participant data (IPD).

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No