Justine Dol1, Gail Tomblin Murphy2, Megan Aston3, Douglas McMillan4, Marsha Campbell-Yeo5. 1. Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada. Electronic address: Justine.Dol@dal.ca. 2. Nova Scotia Health Authority, Halifax, NS, Canada. 3. School of Nursing, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada. 4. Division of Neonatal Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University and IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada. 5. School of Nursing, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada; Division of Neonatal Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University and IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The transition to motherhood is an exciting yet challenging period that requires physical, emotional, and social adjustment. During the postpartum period, mothers require support and information to ensure a smooth transition and adjustment to motherhood. One innovative strategy to provide mothers with this information is mobile health (mHealth), and specifically, text messaging. OBJECTIVE: To describe the design, development and usability testing of a postnatal text message intervention called Essential Coaching for Every Mother. METHODS: First time mothers (n=11) and postpartum healthcare providers (n=18) were involved in iterative interviewing in Halifax, Canada. Adaption of content occurred through three rounds of user testing using semi-structured interviews. The Information Assessment Method (IAM) Parents survey was also completed by mothers. RESULTS: Three cycles of iterative testing were conducted with eight participants (3 mothers, 5 healthcare providers), thirteen participants (8 mothers, 5 healthcare providers) and 8 participants (8 healthcare providers), respectively. Messages evolved from risk-focused to prevention and education focused. Mothers felt the messages addressed their needs and healthcare providers ensured the content was consistent with the messaging currently provided to postpartum mothers. CONCLUSION: Essential Coaching for Every Mother is the first postnatal educational text message intervention developed for mothers in Halifax, Canada. We sought to involve first time mothers (end-users) and postpartum healthcare providers (experts) in the development and usability evaluation to ensure the intervention adequately met needs and was consistent with current practices related to postpartum education.
BACKGROUND: The transition to motherhood is an exciting yet challenging period that requires physical, emotional, and social adjustment. During the postpartum period, mothers require support and information to ensure a smooth transition and adjustment to motherhood. One innovative strategy to provide mothers with this information is mobile health (mHealth), and specifically, text messaging. OBJECTIVE: To describe the design, development and usability testing of a postnatal text message intervention called Essential Coaching for Every Mother. METHODS: First time mothers (n=11) and postpartum healthcare providers (n=18) were involved in iterative interviewing in Halifax, Canada. Adaption of content occurred through three rounds of user testing using semi-structured interviews. The Information Assessment Method (IAM) Parents survey was also completed by mothers. RESULTS: Three cycles of iterative testing were conducted with eight participants (3 mothers, 5 healthcare providers), thirteen participants (8 mothers, 5 healthcare providers) and 8 participants (8 healthcare providers), respectively. Messages evolved from risk-focused to prevention and education focused. Mothers felt the messages addressed their needs and healthcare providers ensured the content was consistent with the messaging currently provided to postpartum mothers. CONCLUSION: Essential Coaching for Every Mother is the first postnatal educational text message intervention developed for mothers in Halifax, Canada. We sought to involve first time mothers (end-users) and postpartum healthcare providers (experts) in the development and usability evaluation to ensure the intervention adequately met needs and was consistent with current practices related to postpartum education.