Using the Person-Based Approach to Develop a Digital Intervention Targeting Diet and Physical Activity in Pregnancy:...

Area of Science:

• Digital Health Interventions
• Behavior Change Theory
• Maternal Health

Background:

• Healthy diet and physical activity (PA) during pregnancy improve maternal and fetal outcomes.
• Digital interventions offer a cost-effective and accessible approach to behavior change.
• The Baby Buddy app is a widely used platform for supporting parents in the UK.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a theory-based intervention within the Baby Buddy app.
• To empower expectant parents to adopt healthier dietary and PA habits.
• To support healthy behaviors throughout pregnancy and parenthood.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Behavior Change Wheel and a person-based approach for intervention design.
• Conducted three stages of qualitative research with pregnant and recently pregnant parents.
• Incorporated iterative feedback from users, patient involvement, and expert contributors.

Main Results:

• Confirmed the appeal and relevance of the intervention concept, including partner involvement.
• Refined intervention design based on iterative feedback, ensuring relevance for a diverse audience.
• Identified and addressed functionality, content, and design issues to enhance user experience.

Conclusions:

• Combining theoretical methods with a person-based approach yields user-friendly and engaging interventions.
• The developed intervention is theory-based, user-friendly, appealing, and engaging.
• Further research is required to assess the intervention's effectiveness on diet, PA, and weight management.