Publication Date

5-2024

Advisor(s) - Committee Chair

Rachel Tinius, Mark Schafer, Dano Tolusso

Degree Program

School of Kinesiology, Recreation & Sport

Degree Type

Master of Science

Abstract

Health professionals play a major role in promoting physical activity, especially during pregnancy, the best teachable moment for introducing behavior changes in women's lives. Demonstrating the power of medical advice for changing behavior is an important way to encourage obstetric providers to spare time for lifestyle counseling at maternity clinics. The aim of the study is twofold: 1) to assess physical activity communication from obstetric providers and its relationship to physical activity outcomes of pregnant women and 2) to determine the potential efficacy of a mobile application in changing patient-provider communication regarding maternal physical activity. For aim 1, content, quality of advice, and barriers to physical activity counseling among midwives and nurse practitioners were explored (n=10) using an open-ended qualitative survey. Additionally, obstetric patients' perceptions of provider support for exercise, self-efficacy, social support, and barriers to being active and physical activity status were assessed among pregnant women (n=27). Pearson and Spearman correlations were used to assess the relationship between the perceived provider support for exercise and self-efficacy, social support, barriers to being active, and physical activity status. For aim 2, a randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of BumptUp® in changing patient-provider communication regarding exercise during pregnancy in a sample of 14 pregnant women. The Mann-Whitney U Test was used to compare the treatment and control groups at equivalent time points.

Qualitative data revealed that besides a few issues (i.e., discouraging vigorous activity), providers' advice regarding prenatal exercise complied with the latest recommendations and included information about intensity, frequency, and types of safe exercises. Provider support was not correlated with objectively measured physical activity, yet significant relationships were observed for family support (r=0.474); a negative correlation was observed for lack of willpower (r=-0.451). Compared to their controls, no significant difference in provider support was observed in the BumptUp® users (p=0.456). Although obstetric provider advice regarding prenatal exercise was satisfactory, their support was not related to improving physical activity levels during pregnancy. Yet, medical advice was positively associated with improved family support and inversely related to lack of willpower, vital markers of sustainable behavior change.

Disciplines

Community Health and Preventive Medicine | Maternal and Child Health | Medicine and Health Sciences | Public Health

Download

Available for download on Friday, April 16, 2027

Share

COinS