SmartMom™ is a free text messaging program that sends you information timed to your stage of pregnancy to help you achieve healthy pregnancy and birth. Messages include links to websites and videos that show how your baby is growing and developing, information to guide the important choices you’ll face, and tips on how to manage your labour.
SmartMom™ is also your local and online guide to services and programs available to support you.

Terms of Consent

If you sign up for SmartMom™ text messages, you will be asked to complete optional surveys. These surveys will help us learn more about how to provide health information to women during their pregnancies. The information you are asked for in the surveys are used as part of a research study to learn about the health and behavioural characteristics of pregnant women in British Columbia, including how women find out about SmartMom™, who decides to sign up for the program, and who decides not to. The study has been approved by the Ethics Committees at the Northern Health Authority and the University of British Columbia. You are being invited to take part in this study because you are pregnant and living in British Columbia.

Your participation in these surveys is completely voluntary. You can choose to answer some or none of the questions. This study is being conducted by Optimal Birth BC which is a partnership between academic researchers from the University of British Columbia and Ministry of Health. The purpose of Optimal Birth BC is to promote healthy pregnancy and birth. There are no risks to you, nor are there any direct benefits, from taking part in the surveys. Your answers may help us learn how to better reach out to women to inform them about the program and help us to improve the program. Your confidentiality is respected at all times: no information that discloses your identity will be published. Answers to survey questions will be reported in aggregate—that is, results will be reported for groups and not for individuals. Your participation in the survey indicates that you are providing consent and that you are expecting that:

1. Any information you provide in this survey will be kept confidential.

2. Only study staff, investigators, and website administrators (MEMOTEXT) will have access to your answers. Answers provided to study staff for analysis by MEMOTEXT will not be linked to your name or phone number. This means that study staff will not be able to see or link your personal identifying information to you or your answers.

3. MEMOTEXT will provide the names and phone numbers of survey participants who wish to be entered in a draw for a $100 gift certificate separately from your survey answers. There will be a draw for every 20 people who complete a survey. Your name and phone number are used only for the purposes of contacting you if you win, and will be erased after each draw is completed.

4. SmartMom™ does not provide you with any personalized medical advice with regard to your individual circumstances and/or your medical condition.

5. Although your messages will be delivered without charge, certain data rates may apply for browsing links attached to text messages, dependent on your phone service provider package.

6. I acknowledge that Text Messaging is generally non-secure and should not be used to send or receive Personal Information collected under the authority of the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, Section 26(c). Questions about the collection, use or disclosure of Personal Information should be directed to Seana-Lee Hamilton, Manager, Information Privacy Office at Information Privacy@fraserhealth.ca or call 604-953-5015 extension 767070

I do agree and consent to receive Text Messages from SmartMom™ for general health related messages.

I acknowledge the right to discontinue receiving Text Messages from SmartMom™ by Texting "STOP" to the sender. I have had the opportunity to ask questions and have had my questions answered to my satisfaction.

If you have any questions, or desire further information about this study before or after your participation, you can contact the Principal Investigator, Dr. Patricia Janssen, at 604-827-4026. You can also contact the Research Manager at 604-875-2314 or 1-855-871-BABY (2229). If you have any concerns about your rights as a research subject and/or your experiences while participating in this study, contact the Research Subject Information Line in the University of British Columbia Office of Research Services by e-mail at RSIL@ors.ubc.ca or by phone at 604-822-8598 (Toll-Free Number: 1-877-822-8598).

Principal Investigator: Patricia Janssen, PhD, Professor
UBC School of Population and Public Health
604-827-4026

Co-investigators:
S.Ahmed, MD, MSc Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC Department of Pediatrics.
M. Klein, MD, Professor Emeritus, UBC Department of Family Practice
J. Kornelsen, PhD Associate Professor, UBC Department of Family Practice
S. Munro, MA, PhD Student, UBC School of Population and Public Health
K. Stoll, PhD Postdoctoral Fellow, UBC School of Population and Public Health
V. Salmons, RN, BSN Northern Health Early Childhood Development Lead, Public Health

Sponsors: BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute
Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies
Alva Foundation

Research Manager: 604-875-2314 or 1 (855) 871-BABY (2229)