Increasing Physical Activity Through a Mobile Health Intervention Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women in a Rural Setting
Western Kentucky University
Summary
The overarching goal of this randomized controlled clinical trial is to test the efficacy of the mHealth app (BumptUp) for improving physical activity levels among pregnant and postpartum women in a rural setting. Secondary outcomes include weight status, dietary intake, glucose tolerance, blood pressure, and mental health. Specific Aim 1. Conduct an RCT (N=176) to assess the efficacy of the mHealth intervention for increasing physical activity levels during pregnancy (13-15, 23-25, and 35-37 weeks gestation) and postpartum (6 and 12 weeks) among women in a rural setting. Research Activities: The efficacy of BumptUp® will be determined by measuring physical activity levels (via accelerometry and surveys) between women who use the mobile app (intervention) and women who use only an educational brochure (attention control). Specific Aim 2: Assess the efficacy of the mHealth intervention on important obstetric outcomes including maternal weight status, dietary intake, glucose tolerance, blood pressure, and mental health. Research Activities: Maternal weight status, glucose tolerance, and blood pressure values will be obtained from patient charts. Dietary intake will be assessed via the National Cancer Institute Multifactor Screener. Maternal mental health status will be measured via The Edinberg Postpartum Depression Questionnaire, Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.
Description
A mobile application (app) that can increase physical activity during and after pregnancy is novel, timely, and critically important to maternal health. Mobile phone-based interventions show significant promise because they can be tailored to the target population, can be delivered at any place and at any time (with or without internet connection), are interactive, and are accessible to the majority of the population irrespective of socioeconomic status (96% of U.S. women ages 18-49 own smartphones). The use of mHealth apps has been associated with behavior change, specifically adaptation of h…