The Labour Hopscotch Framework: Promoting Physiological Birth

Project Outline

The purpose of this study was to further evaluate and examine how to digitalise the LHF to enhance its accessibility, feasibility, and acceptability within the Ireland East Hospital Group: National Maternity Hospital (NMH), Regional Hospital Mullingar (RHM), Wexford General Hospital (WGH) and St Luke’s General Hospital Kilkenny (SLGHK). The Mixed-Method Sequential Explanatory Design [18-month Project] included formation of collaborative partnerships with pregnant women, their birth partners, midwives, obstetricians, allied healthcare professionals and information technology experts [Experts by Experience and Experts by Profession]: A Cross Sectional Online Survey exploring women’s opinions of their informational needs via Qualtrics in three sites. Focus group meeting with five women in a fourth site exploring their preferred content for an app. Phase 3: Prototype App developed with service user input, piloted and evaluated by service users and experts by profession (Midwives) via Qualtrics survey.

In conjunction with our research fieldwork study, we completed a narrative review exploring women, and maternity care perspectives of using apps as an educational platform for childbirth which highlighted key benefits and some potential barriers around accessibility.

Women want accessible trustworthy information in an interactive format from maternity care professionals. There are barriers to using Apps despite the availability of smartphones. Collaborative approaches to development work best. Changes wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly accelerated the adoption of new technologies.  Evaluation of the usability of mobile phone apps and other online learning platforms during childbirth is crucial for success. An App or online platform written and designed with service users offers midwifery knowledge and expertise in an accessible trustworthy interactive format.