New Technologies in the Promotion of a Healthy Lifestyle Across Pregnancy – Views of Women and Health Professionals
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Abstract
Willcox JC1, Campbell KJ1, van der Pligt P1, McCarthy E2, Wilkinson SA3, Ball K1Lappas M2, Crawford D1
1 Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, Deakin University2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne 3 Mater Mothers Hospital/Mater Research
Background: Evidence suggests women are struggling to eat well, be physically active and gain healthy amounts of weight in pregnancy. Women are seeking information and are more likely to consult non-clinician sources, primarily the internet. Novel technologies offer an opportunity to provide trusted source information and interventions incorporating behavioural change practices in a low-cost, easy access method.
This study aimed to explore women’s and health professionals views regarding technology based information sources and interventions to assist women to eat well, be physically active and gain healthy amounts of weight in pregnancy.
Method: A descriptive qualitative research approach employed:
• Two focus groups and 8 in-depth interviews with 15 pregnant or postpartum women
• 12 in-depth interviews with health professionals (HPs) including two of obstetricians, general practitioners, midwives, dietitians, physiotherapists and community pharmacists.
All interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed.
Results: Women uniformly embraced the concept of technology based information sources and interventions (hence known as “technology”) in antenatal care and saw them as central to information acquisition and potentially in the antenatal care process. The HPs exhibited a wide variation in views towards technology in antenatal care. They saw it as an inevitable, but often a parallel service, rather than integrated into the care model.
Four key themes emerged and included perceived control, risk perception, responsibility and functionality. The emergence of technology was perceived by some HPs to have shifted control of information from trusted sources, such as HPS and health organisations, to non-trusted sources. Women saw their ability to access technology, and confidence in doing so, as a way to self-manage or control their information acquisition that was unavailable in traditional care models and information sources.
The women’s familiarity with technology saw many appreciate the risks involved in accessing technology. Many saw themselves as having the capacity to evaluate and “cherry pick” the information to suit their situation and the ability to sift out non-credible information. Some of the HPs were concerned about the medico legal risks of technology, (incorrect or harmful information and privacy concerns) while others acknowledged that as long as the inherent risks were acknowledged and women informed then technology was feasible.
Across both groups there was uncertainty as to who should be responsible for ensuring high quality information via new technologies. The absence of a key pregnancy or women’s advocacy group, lack of health funds for technologies and the perceived inability of maternity hospitals to embrace technology were seen to be key barriers to provision.
Women consistently identified the functionality of technology as value adding for antenatal care models. Some of the HPs unfamiliarity with technology and fear of loss of control of the information provision limited their engagement with, and comprehension of, the capacity of new technologies to support antenatal care
Conclusions: In addition to improving the knowledge base, these data contribute to the understanding of the opportunities and challenges in developing technology based healthy lifestyle interventions in the antenatal care context.
1 Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, Deakin University2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne 3 Mater Mothers Hospital/Mater Research
Background: Evidence suggests women are struggling to eat well, be physically active and gain healthy amounts of weight in pregnancy. Women are seeking information and are more likely to consult non-clinician sources, primarily the internet. Novel technologies offer an opportunity to provide trusted source information and interventions incorporating behavioural change practices in a low-cost, easy access method.
This study aimed to explore women’s and health professionals views regarding technology based information sources and interventions to assist women to eat well, be physically active and gain healthy amounts of weight in pregnancy.
Method: A descriptive qualitative research approach employed:
• Two focus groups and 8 in-depth interviews with 15 pregnant or postpartum women
• 12 in-depth interviews with health professionals (HPs) including two of obstetricians, general practitioners, midwives, dietitians, physiotherapists and community pharmacists.
All interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed.
Results: Women uniformly embraced the concept of technology based information sources and interventions (hence known as “technology”) in antenatal care and saw them as central to information acquisition and potentially in the antenatal care process. The HPs exhibited a wide variation in views towards technology in antenatal care. They saw it as an inevitable, but often a parallel service, rather than integrated into the care model.
Four key themes emerged and included perceived control, risk perception, responsibility and functionality. The emergence of technology was perceived by some HPs to have shifted control of information from trusted sources, such as HPS and health organisations, to non-trusted sources. Women saw their ability to access technology, and confidence in doing so, as a way to self-manage or control their information acquisition that was unavailable in traditional care models and information sources.
The women’s familiarity with technology saw many appreciate the risks involved in accessing technology. Many saw themselves as having the capacity to evaluate and “cherry pick” the information to suit their situation and the ability to sift out non-credible information. Some of the HPs were concerned about the medico legal risks of technology, (incorrect or harmful information and privacy concerns) while others acknowledged that as long as the inherent risks were acknowledged and women informed then technology was feasible.
Across both groups there was uncertainty as to who should be responsible for ensuring high quality information via new technologies. The absence of a key pregnancy or women’s advocacy group, lack of health funds for technologies and the perceived inability of maternity hospitals to embrace technology were seen to be key barriers to provision.
Women consistently identified the functionality of technology as value adding for antenatal care models. Some of the HPs unfamiliarity with technology and fear of loss of control of the information provision limited their engagement with, and comprehension of, the capacity of new technologies to support antenatal care
Conclusions: In addition to improving the knowledge base, these data contribute to the understanding of the opportunities and challenges in developing technology based healthy lifestyle interventions in the antenatal care context.
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