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Bogaerts A, Steegen S, Mertens L, Bijlholt M, Braeken M, Vanden Eynde H, Heynickx D, Jacobs B, Vandenberghe B, Ameye L, Devlieger R
Development and Field Evaluation of the INTER-ACT App, a Pregnancy and Interpregnancy Coaching App to Reduce Maternal Overweight and Obesity: Mixed Methods Design
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Development and field evaluation of the INTER-ACT app, inter-pregnancy coaching to reduce maternal overweight and obesity
Annick Bogaerts;
Stefanie Steegen;
Lotte Mertens;
Margriet Bijlholt;
Marijke Braeken;
Hannelore Vanden Eynde;
Dorine Heynickx;
Bart Jacobs;
Bert Vandenberghe;
Lieveke Ameye;
Roland Devlieger
ABSTRACT
Background:
The inter-pregnancy period is an important window of opportunity to prevent gestational weight retention. Despite an overwhelming number of existing health apps, validated applications to support a healthy lifestyle in women during both pregnancy and postpartum are lacking.
Objective:
To describe the development and evaluation of the INTER-ACT app, part of an inter-pregnancy lifestyle coaching module targeting women with previous excessive gestational weight gain.
Methods:
a mixed methods design to identify needs of healthcare providers and end users, based on 15 semi-structured interviews, two focus groups and two surveys. The user interface was evaluated in a pilot study (n=9).
Results:
Healthcare providers indicate that a mobile app can enhance a healthy lifestyle in pregnant women. Pregnant women preferred graphic displays in the app, weekly notifications and support messages based on their own goals. Both mothers and health care providers reported increased awareness and valued the combination of the app with face-to-face coaching.
Conclusions:
We report on the development and evaluation process of an application to promote a healthy lifestyle in a specific female population. These women valued the INTER-ACT app because it was offered in combination with face-to-face contact with a caregiver.
Citation
Please cite as:
Bogaerts A, Steegen S, Mertens L, Bijlholt M, Braeken M, Vanden Eynde H, Heynickx D, Jacobs B, Vandenberghe B, Ameye L, Devlieger R
Development and Field Evaluation of the INTER-ACT App, a Pregnancy and Interpregnancy Coaching App to Reduce Maternal Overweight and Obesity: Mixed Methods Design