scholarly journals Experiences, Attitudes, and Needs of Users of a Pregnancy and Parenting App (Baby Buddy) During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Mixed Methods Study

10.2196/23157 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. e23157
Author(s):  
Alexandra Rhodes ◽  
Sara Kheireddine ◽  
Andrea D Smith
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Health Care Provision ◽  
Care Provision ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The Impact

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the lives of expectant parents and parents of young babies, with disruptions in health care provision and loss of social support. Objective This study investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated lockdown on this population through the lens of users of the UK National Health Service–approved pregnancy and parenting smartphone app, Baby Buddy. The study aims were threefold: to gain insights into the attitudes and experiences of expectant and recent parents (with babies under 24 weeks of age) during the COVID-19 pandemic; to investigate whether Baby Buddy is meeting users’ needs during this time; and to identify ways to revise the content of Baby Buddy to better support its users now and in future. Methods A mixed methods study design combining a web-based survey with semistructured telephone interviews among Baby Buddy users in the United Kingdom was applied. Data were collected from April 15 to mid-June 2020, corresponding to weeks 4-13 of the lockdown in the United Kingdom. Results A total of 436 expectant (n=244, 56.0%) and recent (n=192, 44.0%) parents responded to the web-based survey, of which 79.1% (n=345) were aged 25-39 years and 17.2% (n=75) spoke English as their second language. Of the 436 respondents, 88.5% (386/436) reported increased levels of anxiety around pregnancy, birth, and being a new parent, and 58.0% (253/436) were concerned about their emotional and mental health. Of the 244 pregnant respondents, 43.4% (n=106) were concerned about their physical health. Telephone interviews with 13 pregnant women and 19 recent parents revealed similarly increased levels of anxiety due to reduced health care provision and loss of support from friends and family. Although a minority of respondents identified some positive outcomes of lockdown, such as family bonding, many telephone interviewees reported feeling isolated, disregarded, and overwhelmed. Recent parents were particularly anxious about the impact of the lockdown on their baby’s development and socialization. Many interviewees were also concerned about their physical health as a consequence of both limited access to face-to-face medical appointments and their own poorer dietary and physical activity behaviors. Across both samples, 97.0% (423/436) of respondents reported that Baby Buddy was currently helping them, with many commenting that its role was even more important given the lack of face-to-face support from health care and parenting organizations. Greater speed in updating digital content to reflect changes due to the pandemic was suggested. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic has created heightened anxiety and stress among expectant parents and those with a young baby, and for many, lockdown has had an adverse impact on their physical and mental well-being. With reductions in health care and social support, expectant and new parents are increasingly relying on web-based resources. As a free, evidence-based app, Baby Buddy is well positioned to meet this need. The app could support its users even more by actively directing them to the wealth of existing content relevant to their concerns and by adding content to give users the knowledge and confidence to meet new challenges.

scholarly journals Experiences, Attitudes, and Needs of Users of a Pregnancy and Parenting App (Baby Buddy) During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Mixed Methods Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Rhodes ◽  
Sara Kheireddine ◽  
Andrea D Smith
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Health Care Provision ◽  
Care Provision ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the lives of expectant parents and parents of young babies, with disruptions in health care provision and loss of social support. OBJECTIVE This study investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated lockdown on this population through the lens of users of the UK National Health Service–approved pregnancy and parenting smartphone app, Baby Buddy. The study aims were threefold: to gain insights into the attitudes and experiences of expectant and recent parents (with babies under 24 weeks of age) during the COVID-19 pandemic; to investigate whether Baby Buddy is meeting users’ needs during this time; and to identify ways to revise the content of Baby Buddy to better support its users now and in future. METHODS A mixed methods study design combining a web-based survey with semistructured telephone interviews among Baby Buddy users in the United Kingdom was applied. Data were collected from April 15 to mid-June 2020, corresponding to weeks 4-13 of the lockdown in the United Kingdom. RESULTS A total of 436 expectant (n=244, 56.0%) and recent (n=192, 44.0%) parents responded to the web-based survey, of which 79.1% (n=345) were aged 25-39 years and 17.2% (n=75) spoke English as their second language. Of the 436 respondents, 88.5% (386/436) reported increased levels of anxiety around pregnancy, birth, and being a new parent, and 58.0% (253/436) were concerned about their emotional and mental health. Of the 244 pregnant respondents, 43.4% (n=106) were concerned about their physical health. Telephone interviews with 13 pregnant women and 19 recent parents revealed similarly increased levels of anxiety due to reduced health care provision and loss of support from friends and family. Although a minority of respondents identified some positive outcomes of lockdown, such as family bonding, many telephone interviewees reported feeling isolated, disregarded, and overwhelmed. Recent parents were particularly anxious about the impact of the lockdown on their baby’s development and socialization. Many interviewees were also concerned about their physical health as a consequence of both limited access to face-to-face medical appointments and their own poorer dietary and physical activity behaviors. Across both samples, 97.0% (423/436) of respondents reported that Baby Buddy was currently helping them, with many commenting that its role was even more important given the lack of face-to-face support from health care and parenting organizations. Greater speed in updating digital content to reflect changes due to the pandemic was suggested. CONCLUSIONS The COVID-19 pandemic has created heightened anxiety and stress among expectant parents and those with a young baby, and for many, lockdown has had an adverse impact on their physical and mental well-being. With reductions in health care and social support, expectant and new parents are increasingly relying on web-based resources. As a free, evidence-based app, Baby Buddy is well positioned to meet this need. The app could support its users even more by actively directing them to the wealth of existing content relevant to their concerns and by adding content to give users the knowledge and confidence to meet new challenges.

scholarly journals The situation of elderly with cognitive impairment living at home during lockdown in the Corona-pandemic in Germany

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jochen René Thyrian ◽  
Friederike Kracht ◽  
Angela Nikelski ◽  
Melanie Boekholt ◽  
Fanny Schumacher-Schönert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Health Care Provision ◽  
Social Activities ◽  
Care Provision ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Personal Impact ◽  
The Impact ◽  
At Home

Abstract Background: The outbreak of the Corona virus is a challenge for health care systems worldwide. The aim of this study is to analyze a) knowledge about, and feelings related to the Corona-pandemic. Describe b) loneliness, depression and anxiety and, c) the perceived, immediate impact of the lockdown on frequency of social contacts and quality of health care provision of people with cognitive impairment during social distancing and lockdown in the primary care system and living at home in Germany. Methods: This analysis is based on data of a telephone-based assessment in a convenience sample of n=141 people with known cognitive impairment in the primary care setting. Data on e.g. cognitive and psychological status prior to the pandemic was available. Attitudes, knowledge about and perceived personal impact of the pandemic, social support, loneliness, anxiety, depression, change in the frequency of social activities due to the pandemic and perceived impact of the pandemic on health care related services were assessed during the time of lockdown. Results: The vast majority of participants are sufficiently informed about Corona (85%) and most think that the measures taken are appropriate (64%). A total of 11% shows one main symptom of a depression according to DSM-5. The frequency of depressive symptoms has not increased between the time before pandemic and lockdown in almost all participants. The sample shows minimal (65.0%) or low symptoms of anxiety (25%). The prevalence of loneliness is 10%. On average seven activities have decreased in frequency due to the pandemic. Social activities related to meeting people, dancing or visiting birthdays have decreased significantly. Talking with friends by phone and activities like gardening have increased. Utilization of health care services like day clinics, relief services and prescribed therapies have been reported to have worsened due to the pandemic. Visits to general practitioners decreased. Conclusions: The study shows a small impact of the pandemic on psychological variables like depression, anxiety and loneliness in the short-term in Germany. There is a decrease in social activities as expected. The impact on health care provision is prominent. There is a need for qualitative, in-depth studies to further interpret the results.

scholarly journals Feasibility, Acceptability, and Impact of a Web-Based Structured Education Program for Type 2 Diabetes: Real-World Study

JMIR Diabetes ◽  
10.2196/15744 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. e15744 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shoba Poduval ◽  
Louise Marston ◽  
Fiona Hamilton ◽  
Fiona Stevenson ◽  
Elizabeth Murray
Keyword(s):  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Education Program ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Completion Rates ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Structured Education ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
The United Kingdom

Background Structured education for people with type 2 diabetes improves outcomes, but uptake is low globally. In the United Kingdom in 2016, only 8.3% of people who were referred to education programs attended the program. We have developed a Web-based structured education program named Healthy Living for People with type 2 Diabetes (HeLP-Diabetes): Starting Out (HDSO), as an alternative to face-to-face courses. A Web-based program gives people more options for accessing structured education and may help improve overall uptake. Objective The aim was to explore the feasibility and acceptability of delivering a Web-based structured education program (named HeLP-Diabetes: Starting Out) in routine primary health care and its potential impact on self-efficacy and diabetes-related distress. Methods HDSO was delivered as part of routine diabetes services in primary health care in the United Kingdom, having been commissioned by local Clinical Commissioning Groups. Quantitative data were collected on uptake, use of the program, demographic characteristics, self-reported self-efficacy, and diabetes-related distress. A subsample of people with type 2 diabetes and health care professionals were interviewed about acceptability of the program. Results It was feasible to deliver the program, but completion rates were low: of 791 people with type 2 diabetes registered, only 74 (9.0%) completed it. Completers improved their self-efficacy (change in median score 2.5, P=.001) and diabetes-related distress (change in median score 6.0, P=.001). Interview data suggested that the course was acceptable, and that uptake and completion may be related to nonprioritization of structured education. Conclusions The study provides evidence of the feasibility and acceptability of a Web-based structured education. However, uptake and completion rates were low, limiting potential population impact. Further research is needed to improve completion rates, and to determine the relative effectiveness of Web-based versus face-to-face education.

scholarly journals Remote Health Care Provision in Care Homes in England: An Exploratory Mixed Methods Study of Yorkshire and the Humber

Technologies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Newbould ◽  
Gail Mountain ◽  
Steven Ariss ◽  
Mark Hawley
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Care Homes ◽  
Health Care Provision ◽  
Care Provision

An increasing demand for care homes in the UK, has necessitated the evaluation of innovative methods for delivering more effective health care. Videoconferencing may be one way to meet this demand. However, there is a lack of literature on the provision of videoconferencing in England. This mixed-methods study aimed to map current attitudes, knowledge and provision of videoconferencing in the Yorkshire and Humber region of England. Qualitative interviews with care home managers, a scoping review and field notes from a Special Interest Group (SIG) informed the development of a descriptive convenience survey which was sent out to care home managers in the Yorkshire and Humber region of England. The survey had a 14% (n = 124) response rate. Of those who responded, 10% (n = 12) reported using videoconferencing for health care; with over 78% (n = 97) of respondents’ care homes being based in urban areas. Approximately 62% (n = 77) of the 124 respondents had heard of videoconferencing for health care provision. Of those who reported not using videoconferencing (n = 112), 39% (n = 48) said they would consider it but would need to know more. The top ranked reason for not introducing videoconferencing was the belief that residents would not be comfortable using videoconferencing to consult with a healthcare professional. The main reason for implementation was the need for speedier access to services. Those already using videoconferencing rated videoconferencing overall as being very good (50%) (n = 6) or good (42%) (n = 5). Those who were not using it in practice appeared sceptical before implementing videoconferencing. The main driver of uptake was the home’s current access to and satisfaction with traditionally delivered health care services.

The Impact of Hurricane Katrina On Physician Practices and Health Care Provision in Gulf Coast Mississippi

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter J. Jones ◽  
Lovetta Brown ◽  
Gerri Cannon-Smith ◽  
Vincent L. Mendy ◽  
Santosh Ghumare
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Hurricane Katrina ◽  
Gulf Coast ◽  
Health Care Provision ◽  
Care Provision ◽  
Physician Practices ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals The situation of elderly with cognitive impairment living at home during lockdown in the Corona-pandemic in Germany

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jochen René Thyrian ◽  
Friederike Kracht ◽  
Angela Nikelski ◽  
Melanie Boekholt ◽  
Fanny Schumacher-Schönert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Health Care Provision ◽  
Social Activities ◽  
Care Provision ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Personal Impact ◽  
The Impact ◽  
At Home

Abstract Background The outbreak of the Corona virus is a challenge for health care systems worldwide. The aim of this study is to analyze a) knowledge about, and feelings related to the Corona-pandemic. Describe b) loneliness, depression and anxiety and, c) the perceived, immediate impact of the lockdown on frequency of social contacts and quality of health care provision of people with cognitive impairment during social distancing and lockdown in the primary care system and living at home in Germany. Methods This analysis is based on data of a telephone-based assessment in a convenience sample of n = 141 people with known cognitive impairment in the primary care setting. Data on e.g. cognitive and psychological status prior to the pandemic was available. Attitudes, knowledge about and perceived personal impact of the pandemic, social support, loneliness, anxiety, depression, change in the frequency of social activities due to the pandemic and perceived impact of the pandemic on health care related services were assessed during the time of lockdown. Results The vast majority of participants are sufficiently informed about Corona (85%) and most think that the measures taken are appropriate (64%). A total of 11% shows one main symptom of a depression according to DSM-5. The frequency of depressive symptoms has not increased between the time before pandemic and lockdown in almost all participants. The sample shows minimal (65.0%) or low symptoms of anxiety (25%). The prevalence of loneliness is 10%. On average seven activities have decreased in frequency due to the pandemic. Social activities related to meeting people, dancing or visiting birthdays have decreased significantly. Talking with friends by phone and activities like gardening have increased. Utilization of health care services like day clinics, relief services and prescribed therapies have been reported to have worsened due to the pandemic. Visits to general practitioners decreased. Conclusions The study shows a small impact of the pandemic on psychological variables like depression, anxiety and loneliness in the short-term in Germany. There is a decrease in social activities as expected. The impact on health care provision is prominent. There is a need for qualitative, in-depth studies to further interpret the results.

scholarly journals The Impact of Refugee Women’s Accommodation on Maternal Health Care Provision

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Kasper
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Maternal Health ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Maternal Health Care ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Health Care Provision ◽  
Care Provision ◽  
Childbearing Age ◽  
Refugee Women ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background About 1/3 of the persons seeking asylum in Germany are female. The majority of all refugee women in Germany are currently of childbearing age. The maternity period requires specialized care. Maternal health care professionals monitor the physiological processes of maternity and the psychosocial well-being in order to allow an uncomplicated transition to maternity. On arriving in Germany there are different types of accommodation for refugee women: 1) shared reception centers (e.g. tents, containerbuildings, gyms), 2) collective shelters for particularly vulnerable refugees and 3) private apartments. Depending on the woman’s accommodation maternal health care professionals are confronted with different situations and conditions in providing care for these women. The aim is to analyze the impact of refugee women’s accommodation on maternal health care provision and professional’s actions. Methods Structured expert interviews were conducted with maternal health care professionals. The interviews were analyzed following the standards of qualitative thematic analysis with a special focus on refugee women’s accommodation and its impact on maternal health care provision. Results The accommodation situation does impact the provision of maternal health care as well as the actions and doings of maternal health care professionals. On the one hand there is a change in tasks, which are no subject to original maternal health care, such as organizing transportation. On the other hand there are challenges in actually executing particular maternal health care actions, such as taking the medical history or performing examinations where there is no or little privacy. Conclusions Accommodation conditions impact maternal health care provision in various ways. Therefore an enhancement of housing for refugee women may improve maternal health care provision and therefore maternal health for refugee women.

scholarly journals The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on perceived access to health care and preferences for health care provision in individuals (being) treated for breast cancer

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dieuwke R. Mink van der Molen ◽  
Claudia A. Bargon ◽  
Marilot C. T. Batenburg ◽  
Lilianne E. van Stam ◽  
Iris E. van Dam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Health Care Provision ◽  
Care Provision ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Perceived Access ◽  
The Impact
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