Randomized Controlled Trial of a Mobile Health Application Based on Roy's Adaptation Model on Postpartum Adaptation

Area of Science:

• Nursing Science
• Digital Health
• Maternal Health

Background:

• Mobile applications are integral to global nursing care, spanning pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum.
• The increasing use of mobile health necessitates research into their efficacy in maternal care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a mobile health application, based on the Roy adaptation model, on postpartum adaptation in pregnant women.
• To assess the effectiveness of a mobile intervention in supporting maternal adjustment during the postpartum period.

Main Methods:

• A single-center, two-arm parallel-group randomized controlled trial was conducted.
• Participants received a mobile application from 32-34 weeks gestation to six weeks postpartum.
• The Postpartum Self-Evaluation Questionnaire assessed adaptation at 10 days and six weeks postpartum.

Main Results:

• The mobile health application group showed statistically significant improvements in overall postpartum adaptation compared to the control group.
• Key subscales, including confidence in maternal roles and satisfaction with infant care, demonstrated significant group-time interaction effects.
• The intervention group maintained statistically significant improvements in adaptation scores at both 10 days and six weeks postpartum.

Conclusions:

• The developed mobile health application effectively enhances postpartum adaptation in women.
• Mobile health interventions can provide practical, accessible, and high-quality prenatal and postpartum care.
• The Roy adaptation model provides a useful framework for developing digital health tools for maternal support.