Design of the Maternal Website EMAeHealth That Supports Decision-Making During Pregnancy and in the Postpartum Period: Collaborative Action Research Study (Preprint)

Abstract

BACKGROUND Despite the benefit it can give women, Maternal Education needs new tools that increase its effectiveness and scope, in tune with the needs of current users. OBJECTIVE To develop a multifunctional, personalized eHealth platform aimed at the self-management of health in relation to maternity, a flexible and adaptable maternal education tool METHODS The International Patient Decision Aid Standards (IPDAS) were applied. A website prototype was developed for implementation in the public health system using a collaborative action research process in which experts and patients participate, with qualitative research techniques as well as prioritization and consensus techniques. RESULTS A website is proposed which includes (1) systematically updated information related to clinical practice guidelines, (2) interaction between peers and users/professionals, (3) instruments for self-assessment of health needs as a basis for working on counseling, agreement on actions, help in the search for resources, monitoring and evaluation of results and (4) access for women to their clinical data and the option of sharing them with other health agents. These components, with different access requirements, would be permanently reviewed through iterative cycles depending on the frequency and effectiveness resulting from their use and would be accessible from any digital device. CONCLUSIONS This public healthcare website would facilitate use, maintenance and effectiveness to increase quality of care without increasing costs. The participation of professionals and users in the creation of new tools will result in greater satisfaction with their use, with the decisions made, and with the decision process itself.