Using eHealth to Increase Autonomy Supportive Care: A Multicenter Intervention Study in Antenatal Care.

Area of Science:

• Maternal Health
• Digital Health
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• eHealth is increasingly used in antenatal care to improve patient engagement.
• Autonomy supportive care is crucial for enhancing women's experience during pregnancy.
• Limited research exists on the impact of eHealth on perceived autonomy in antenatal care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate women's perception of autonomy supportive care during antenatal visits.
• To assess the impact of an eHealth knowledge base on the quality of antenatal care.
• To compare outcomes between standard antenatal care and eHealth-enhanced antenatal care.

Main Methods:

• An intervention study comparing a control group (standard antenatal care) with an intervention group (standard care + eHealth knowledge base).
• 87 women in the control group and 121 in the intervention group were included.
• Online questionnaires collected data 2 weeks postpartum; data analyzed using Chi-squared and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests.

Main Results:

• The intervention group reported significantly higher overall assessment of antenatal care visits.
• Women using the eHealth knowledge base showed improved confidence and involvement in their care.
• A statistically significant increase in overall self-perceived autonomy supportive care was observed in the intervention group.

Conclusions:

• eHealth knowledge bases can enhance women's autonomy and satisfaction with antenatal care.
• Integrating digital health tools into antenatal services improves the perceived quality of care.
• Future research should explore wider implementation of eHealth in maternal healthcare.