Developing a core information set for Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia, are pregnancy disorders that carry significant short- and long-term health implications for women and their babies. Ensuring that women and birthing people are adequately informed about these conditions and their lifelong consequences is important. However, women regularly report that they do not receive this information.

Access to clear, consistent, and patient-centered information is essential to support understanding, promote positive birth experiences and enable women to make longer term choices about improving their cardiovascular health.

There is ongoing work related to this project, which is working to develop a core outcome set for cardiovascular health after hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (https://www.comet-initiative.org/Studies/Details/2554). However, this work is aimed asking women what information they want to know when they are diagnosed with a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, both immediately and in the longer term. This will outline the minimum information that should be shared during counselling and clinical decision-making discussions. This will provide a standardised foundation for communication, while still allowing individualised and culturally sensitive dialogue tailored to each patients needs and preferences.

By establishing a consensus-driven, evidence-based information standard, this work seeks to enhance patient understanding, support informed choice, and improve both clinical experiences and long-term health outcomes for women affected by hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.

Contributors

Abi Merriel (Principal Investigator)
Mahmoud Aljubeh (Leading)
Keerthana Anand
Carol Kingdon
Alex Hunt

University of Liverpool
Liverpool Women's Hospital

Further Study Information

Current Stage: Ongoing
Date: November 2025 - November 2026
Funding source(s): N/A


Health Area

Disease Category: Pregnancy & childbirth

Disease Name: Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy

Target Population

Age Range: 16 - 65

Sex: Female

Nature of Intervention: Educational/self-management

Stakeholders Involved

- Charities
- Clinical experts
- Families
- Patient/ support group representatives
- Policy makers
- Researchers
- Service commissioners
- Service providers
- Service users

Study Type

- Core information set

Method(s)

- Consensus meeting
- Delphi process
- Interview
- Survey
- Systematic review

1) scoping review of systematic reviews and patient information leaflets to establish which outcomes are currently considered important
2) secondary analysis of existing qualitative data collected by our group
3) online survey of stakeholders for information points
4) Development of Delphi
5) think aloud interviews
6) 2 round Delphi Process
7) consensus meetings

Linked Studies

    No related studies


Related Links