Development and design of an intervention to improve physical activity in pregnant women using Text4baby

Abstract

Text4baby is a free, mobile health information service for pregnant and post-partum women. This study aims to understand preferences of physical activity text messages (SMS), sequentially develop prototype SMS, and determine preferred dose of SMS to inform a future study utilizing Text4baby. This study had a user-centered design with three phases: (1) literature review and interviews with pregnant women for development of prototype SMS, (2) interviews with health care professionals and pregnant women for prototype SMS feedback, and (3) survey to determine preferred dose of SMS. Data from interviews identified knowledge and support as major themes. Prototypes were developed (N=14) and informed 168 SMS. Pregnant women (N=326) thought three SMS/week were about right (50.2 %) and preferred three SMS/week throughout pregnancy (71.9 %). There is a need for opportunities for behavioral scientists to incorporate evidence-based practices within scalable interventions. As such, this research will inform utilization of Text4-baby to potentially improve physical activity participation.

A mobile health intervention promoting healthy gestational weight gain for women entering pregnancy at a high body mass index: the txt4two pilot randomised controlled trial

“…A larger study funded for appropriately detailed and longitudinal follow up would be required to identify whether pregnancy complications are reduced and longer term maternal and family health improved when women engage in mHealth‐supported lifestyle change during pregnancy. Further, a larger trial could establish the efficacy of individual behaviour change techniques utilising the technical features of mobile devices and test the active ingredients of the health messages …”

Dose and timing of text messages for increasing physical activity among pregnant women: a randomized controlled trial

“…Text4baby content was originally developed by the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition [36] in collaboration with and approved by the T4b Content Development council composed of leading and national medical health organization and federal partners. Topics were identified according to evidencebased guidelines (e.g., ACOG, Bright Futures Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents) [37]. T4b granted permission to use their standard SMS content for this research.…”

Patient-Centered Methods for Designing and Developing Health Information Communication Technologies: A Systematic Review

“…Most studies (39%) included £15 participants. 13,21,[34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53] Fourteen studies had >15 but <25 participants, [54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67] and 14 studies had between 26 and 59 participants. [68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80][81] Three studies described the population but did not include the number of participants.…”

“…Healthy behaviors included weight management, 62,71,72 medication adherence and education, 34,85 skin care, 86 healthy behaviors for geriatric patients, 64,73,80,83 postoperative health considerations, 38,45,65 and sexual health. 39,47,79,84 Chronic diseases included cancer, 35,50,53,54,59,69,74,82 gout, 36 lung disease, 21,63 mental health, 41,49,76,77 HIV, 46,66 diabetes and kidney disease, 13,42,43,51,[55][56][57]61,68,70,78,81 arthritis, 44 amblyopia, 48 cardiovascular disease, 52 lupus, 58 autism,…”

“…40,47,49,51,62,64 The main purpose of the technology was also assessed. Self-management was the focus for many studies (28%), 13,35,36,[43][44][45][46]52,55,56,63,64,67,68,72,73 followed closely by education (25%) 34,39,42,47,48,53,59,61,66,67,79,83,85,86 and self-monitoring (23%). 21,37,51,57,60,62,65,67,70,71,78,80,81 Additional purposes included increasing communication, 54,59,…”