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. 2024 Apr 10;14(4):e080443.
doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-080443.

Conceptual framework for establishing twins prevention and continuous health promotion programme: a qualitative study

Hamidreza Abtahi  1   2 , Niloofar Khoshnam-Rad  2 , Marsa Gholamzadeh  3 , Morteza Daraie  4 , Fatemeh Sabouri  2
Affiliations

Conceptual framework for establishing twins prevention and continuous health promotion programme: a qualitative study

Hamidreza Abtahi et al. BMJ Open. .

Abstract

Background: Twin registries and cohorts face numerous challenges, including significant resource allocation, twins' recruitment and retention. This study aimed to assess expert feedback on a proposed pragmatic idea for launching a continuous health promotion and prevention programme (HPPP) to establish and maintain twin cohorts.

Design: A qualitative study incorporating an inductive thematic analysis.

Setting: Tehran University of Medical Sciences.

Participants: Researchers with expertise in twin studies participated in our study.

Analysis and design: Expert opinions were gathered through focus group discussions (FGDs). Thematic analysis was employed to analyse the findings and develop a model for designing a comprehensive, long-term health promotion programme using ATLAS.ti software. Additionally, a standardised framework was developed to represent the conceptual model of the twin HPPP.

Results: Eight FGDs were conducted, involving 16 experts. Thematic analysis identified eight themes and seven subthemes that encompassed the critical aspects of a continuous monitoring programme for twin health. Based on these identified themes, a conceptual framework was developed for the implementation of an HPPP tailored for twins.

Conclusion: This study presented the initial endeavour to establish a comprehensive and practical solution in the form of a continuous HPPP designed to tackle the obstacles of twins' cohorts.

Keywords: Health Services Accessibility; Health policy; PUBLIC HEALTH; Primary Health Care; QUALITATIVE RESEARCH.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The conceptual model of the twin health prevention and promotion programme.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic model for follow-up programme in a school-aged health promotion programme.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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