Date on Paper
7-2021
Document Type
Doctoral Paper
Degree Name
D.N.P.
Department
Nursing
Committee Chair
Bethel-Jaiteh, Cynethia
Committee Member
Hall, Lynne
Author's Keywords
pregnancy apps; prenatal class; virtual education; mHealth; behavior modification; pre-term birth
Abstract
Background: Occurrences of pre-term births are disparagingly higher among women from vulnerable populations. Prenatal classes provide healthcare professionals an opportunity to educate pregnant women about mitigating their risk factors for perinatal complications.
Purpose: To introduce the use of pregnancy mobile applications in a prenatal class to assist women in obtaining optimal maternal health for fetal development.
Methods: A pre/post-test design was used to explore the relationship between increased mobile health (mHealth) use and achievement of health behavior goals. The project intervention included a 15-minute PowerPoint presentation about optimal use and effectiveness of mobile apps in pregnancy, pregnancy health behaviors, and quality pregnancy apps on the market. Participant follow-up occurred four weeks after the prenatal class to evaluate changes in mHealth use and health behavior modification.
Results: Nine of the 10 participants were using pregnancy apps before the intervention. Ten participants completed the pre-test. Five participants completed the post-test at the 4-week follow-up evaluation. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze demographic and outcome data. The daily usage of a pregnancy app remained the same for one participant, increased for two participants, and decreased for two participants. The daily achievement of the selected health behavior goal remained the same for one participant and increased for four participants.
Discussion: Although there is not enough evidence to conclude that mobile health applications were responsible for the increased achievement of health behavior goals in pregnancy, the results did reveal that women are currently using pregnancy applications, warranting the need for educational content to be integrated into prenatal classes to teach women about optimal use and selection of quality mobile applications.
Background: Occurrences of pre-term births are disparagingly higher among women from
vulnerable populations. Prenatal classes provide healthcare professionals an opportunity to
educate pregnant women about mitigating their risk factors for perinatal complications.
Purpose: To introduce the use of pregnancy mobile applications in a prenatal class to assist
women in obtaining optimal maternal health for fetal development.
Methods: A pre/post-test design was used to explore the relationship between increased mobile
health (mHealth) use and achievement of health behavior goals. The project intervention
included a 15-minute PowerPoint presentation about optimal use and effectiveness of mobile
apps in pregnancy, pregnancy health behaviors, and quality pregnancy apps on the market.
Participant follow-up occurred four weeks after the prenatal class to evaluate changes in mHealth
use and health behavior modification.
Results: Nine of the 10 participants were using pregnancy apps before the intervention. Ten
participants completed the pre-test. Five participants completed the post-test at the 4-week
follow-up evaluation. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze demographic and outcome data.
The daily usage of a pregnancy app remained the same for one participant, increased for two
participants, and decreased for two participants. The daily achievement of the selected health
behavior goal remained the same for one participant and increased for four participants.
Discussion: Although there is not enough evidence to conclude that mobile health applications
were responsible for the increased achievement of health behavior goals in pregnancy, the results
did reveal that women are currently using pregnancy applications, warranting the need for
educational content to be integrated into prenatal classes to teach women about optimal use and
selection of quality mobile applications.
Recommended Citation
Corniel, Brittney, "Integrating mHealth in a virtual prenatal class to promote behavior modification in pregnant women." (2021). Doctor of Nursing Practice Papers. Paper 111.
Retrieved from https://ir.library.louisville.edu/dnp/111
