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Elizabeth E. Krans, MD, MSc

Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences

Pregnant women with substance use disorders often face profound social, economic and physical challenges which require a multi-faceted approach to healthcare delivery. Our work focuses on developing interventions that account for these complexities and capitalize on the inherent desire during pregnancy to improve health-related behaviors.
Elizabeth E. Krans, MD, MSc

Research in Brief

Dr Krans’ research examines the relationship between obstetric health care utilization and maternal and neonatal outcomes in women with psychosocial risk factors such as substance abuse.

Specific areas of research include:

  • Improving health care delivery to pregnant women with opioid use disorder.
  • Improving the risk assessment process in prenatal care to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of prenatal care delivery for women with multiple psychosocial risk factors.
  • Evaluating the implementation and dissemination of new, evidence-based prenatal care models and policies into clinical practice.
Immediate postpartum Nexplanon placement versus standard postpartum contraceptive care for opioid dependent pregnant women

Merck Pharmaceuticals IIS#53505 (PI: Krans), 8/01/15-8/01/17

Investigator initiated randomized clinical trial to evaluate the effect of immediate postpartum Nexplanon placement on consistent contraceptive use and rapid repeat pregnancy for 1 year postpartum.

For more information, see https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02657148

Facilitating HCV treatment through tailored prenatal care for HCV infected, substance using pregnant women

NIH/NIDA R21DA039345 (PI: Krans), 5/01/15-6/30/17

This qualitative project is designed to identify ways to improve hepatitis C virus (HCV) education and evaluation during pregnancy to facilitate HCV treatment after delivery.

Predicting Buprenorphine Treatment Adherence in Opioid Dependent Pregnant Women

NIH/NIDA L30 DA038352 (Awardee: Krans), 7/01/14-6/30/16

NIH Clinical Research Loan Repayment Program

Health Care Utilization and Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes in Opioid-Dependent Pregnant Women

NIH KL2 TR000146 (Awardee: Krans), 7/01/12-6/30/16

Career development award through the University of Pittsburgh Multidisciplinary Clinical Research Scholars Program desired to establish the investigator in the area of health services research.

  • Krans EE, Bogan DL, Richardson G, Park SY, Dunn SL, Day N. Factors associated with
    buprenorphine versus methadone use in pregnancy. Substance Abuse. In press, 2015. PMID – In process.
  • Krans EE, Zickmund PhD, Rustgi VK, Park SY, Dunn SL, Schwarz EB. Screening and evaluation of hepatitis C virus infection in pregnant women on opioid maintenance therapy: a retrospective cohort study. Substance Abuse. 2014 Nov 16:0 [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 26569631.
  • Krans EE, Cochran G, Bogan DL. Caring for opioid dependent pregnant women: prenatal and postpartum care considerations. Clin Obstet Gynecol, 2015 Jun;58(2):370-9. PMID: 25775440.
  • Krans EE, Davis MM. Strong Start for Mothers and Newborns: implications for prenatal care delivery. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 2014 Dec;26(6):511-5. PMID: 25379768.
  • Krans EE, Moloci NM, Housey MT, Davis MM. Impact of Psychosocial risk factors on prenatal care delivery: a national provider survey. Matern Child Health J. 2014 Apr 17 [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 24720719.
  • Krans EE, Davis MM, Palladino, CL. Disparate patterns of prenatal care utilization stratified by medical and psychosocial risk. Matern Child Health J. 2013 May;17(4):639-45. PMID: 22581379.
  • Krans EE, Davis MM, Schwarz EB. Psychosocial Risk, Prenatal Counseling and Maternal Behavior: Findings from PRAMS, 2004-2008. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2013 Feb;208(2):141.e1-7. PMID: 23159699.
  • Krans EE, Davis MM. Preventing Low Birthweight: 25 years, prenatal risk, and the failure to reinvent prenatal care. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2012 May; 206(5):398-403. PMID: 21889122.
  • Patrick SW, Schumacher RE, Benneyworth B, Krans EE, McAllister J, and Davis M. Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome and Associated Health Care Expenditures-United States, 2000-2009. JAMA. 2012 May 9; 307(18):1934-40. PMID: 22546608.

For additional publications, visit Pubmed.

Penelope K. Morrison, PhD, MPH Project Manager

Dec 3, 2024
MWRI Faculty Members Receive Over $18 Million in Latest Round of NIH Grants

Oct 31, 2024
Pregnant women and babies face 'terrifying' threat from xylazine addiction

Oct 27, 2024
Pregnancy & recovery: Local programs amp up addiction support

May 19, 2021
After Learning to Care for Herself, Cambria King Launched a Career Caring for Others

Dec 3, 2019
Dr. Elizabeth E. Krans quoted in story on how punishing pregnant women for opioid use leads to more birth complications

Jul 19, 2019
Dr. Elizabeth E. Krans quoted in story on new consensus bundle on obstetric care for women with opioid use disorder

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