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. 2019 Apr;102(4):701-708.
doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2018.10.024. Epub 2018 Oct 29.

Smartphone-based prenatal education for parents with preterm birth risk factors

U Olivia Kim  1 , K Barnekow  2 , S I Ahamed  3 , S Dreier  4 , C Jones  1 , M Taylor  5 , Md K Hasan  3 , M A Basir  6
Affiliations

Smartphone-based prenatal education for parents with preterm birth risk factors

U Olivia Kim et al. Patient Educ Couns. 2019 Apr.

Abstract

Objective: To develop an educational mobile application (app) for expectant parents diagnosed with risk factors for premature birth.

Methods: Parent and medical advisory panels delineated the vision for the app. The app helps prepare for preterm birth. For pilot testing, obstetricians offered the app between 18-22 weeks gestational age to English speaking parents with risk factors for preterm birth. After 4 weeks of use, each participant completed a questionnaire. The software tracked topics accessed and duration of use.

Results: For pilot testing, 31 participants were recruited and 28 completed the questionnaire. After app utilization, participants reported heightened awareness of preterm birth (93%), more discussion of pregnancy or prematurity issues with partner (86%), increased questions at clinic visits (43%), and increased anxiety (21%). Participants reported receiving more prematurity information from the app than from their healthcare providers. The 15 participants for whom tracking data was available accessed the app for an average of 8 h.

Conclusion: Parents with increased risk for preterm birth may benefit from this mobile app educational program.

Practice implications: If the pregnancy results in preterm birth hospitalization, parents would have built a foundation of knowledge to make informed medical care choices.

Keywords: High-risk pregnancy; Medical complications of pregnancy; Premature infant; Prenatal care.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: The authors have no conflict of interest relevant to this article to disclose

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Screen shots of the Preemie Prep for Parents (P3) mobile app. Top left: Logo designed by parents and providers for the mobile app Top center: An example of anticipatory guidance provided to parents Top right: An example of information that encourages parental involvement Bottom left: Page for parents who are at 23 weeks gestation. Bottom center: A pictograph showing neonatal outcome at 22 week gestation Bottom right: A pictograph showing neonatal outcome at 25 week gestation
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
P3 mobile app anticipatory prematurity education program theoretical model
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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