Postpartum Women’s Perspectives of Engaging with a Dietitian and Exercise Physiologist via Video Consultations for Weight Management: A Qualitative Evaluation

Abstract

Optimising weight status after childbirth is important. Video consultations are an unexplored opportunity to deliver real-time support to postpartum women to improve lifestyle behaviours. This study aims to provide insight into postpartum women’s perspectives of engaging with a dietitian and exercise physiologist through video consultations for tailored nutrition and exercise care. A qualitative study using individual telephone interviews (13–36 min) was undertaken. 21 women (body mass index (BMI): 28.1 ± 3.8 kg/m2; age: 32.3 ± 3.0 years; parity: 1.6 ± 0.9 children) who had completed the 8 week “Video-coaching to assist lifestyle (VITAL) change for mums” intervention participation included up to five video consultations with a dietitian and exercise physiologist. The interviews were audiorecorded and transcribed. Thematic data analysis was conducted by an independent researcher using NVIVO11. Themes relating to the video consultation experience included feeling that they did not differ from other consultations, they were convenient, and the length of time and flexible options were appropriate; however there was a desire for increased contact frequency. The dietitian and exercise physiologist were perceived to increase the participants’ knowledge and confidence to improve health behaviours. The approach to setting realistic and tailored goals was well received. Tailored advice from a dietitian and exercise physiologist received via video consultations is acceptable for postpartum women and offers a viable alternative to in-person care.

VITAL change for mums: a feasibility study investigating tailored nutrition and exercise care delivered by video‐consultations for women 3–12 months postpartum

“…Given that almost one‐quarter of women would have preferred more frequent contact with the practitioners, future studies should investigate the impact of receiving a greater number of video‐consultations. Qualitative analysis conducted following completion of VITAL change for mums further supports this finding . With more than one‐quarter of women opting out of using the Jawbone UP24 that was provided for use as a physical activity tracker, future studies should consider other options for physical activity monitoring.…”

Health Professionals' and Postpartum Women's Perspectives on Digital Health Interventions for Lifestyle Management in the Postpartum Period: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Studies

“…Of the included studies, four were conducted in Australia (31–33, 37), three in the USA (34–36), one in England (22), and one in Bangladesh (38). Five studies conducted interviews (22, 31, 32, 36, 37), two conducted focus groups (33, 35), one conducted a survey (34), and one conducted a combination of surveys, focus groups, and interviews (38). In all studies, participants were within the first year after birth.…”

“…In all studies, participants were within the first year after birth. Delivery modes of the DHIs in these studies included websites (22, 31, 34, 36), social media (Facebook) (31), smartphone applications (31, 33, 35), telephone counseling (31, 32, 38), group blog (31), text message (34, 36), voice message (38), video (22, 34, 37), and email (34, 36). Most studies utilized more than one delivery mode in the DHIs.…”

Genomic Information for Clinicians in the Electronic Health Record: Lessons Learned From the Clinical Genome Resource Project and the Electronic Medical Records and Genomics Network

“…In recognition of this issue, the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) led an effort to harmonize terms for reporting that incorporated the input of non-specialist clinicians to develop a standard terminology for reporting that is consistent and unambiguous, thus enhancing clinician understanding. A related effort to harmonize terms describing phenotypes and outcomes involving the eMERGE Outcomes working group, and the ClinGen Actionability Working Group (Williams et al, 2018) provides a basis for work by informaticists to create terminology standards to enhance interoperability. ClinVar and ClinGen as public repositories could play a decisive role in managing the known associations between variants and genes, and the resulting genetic phenotypes.…”