txt4two: Implementation and evaluation of an mHealth (mobile health) antenatal weight management and healthy lifestyle program 

Unhealthy pregnancy lifestyle behaviours and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) are associated with negative pregnancy-related and long-term health outcomes for both mother and infant, including increased risk of caesarean sections, pre-term birth, and infant’s risk of chronic disease in adult life.    

Since the opening of the new Mater Mothers’ Hospital (MMH) in 2008 a number of dietetics-led service delivery initiatives have been developed, implemented, and evaluated to meet the identified nutrition needs of women attending the service. Following improvements through numerous Knowledge to Action cycles, the progressively evolving MMH nutrition and dietetic service, has included service mapping and targeted service improvements based on identified evidence-practice gaps, including booklets, videos, workshops, staff training, and clinic resources like scales in every room.     

The next priority area for service redesign is to develop personally-tailored strategies to support women to improve diet quality and decrease excessive GWG. Particularly, we will explore the potential of broad reach/low intensity methods of delivery such as mHealth (mobile Health) approaches.   

This study will be a comparative evaluation of a pragmatic implementation of an adapted and tailored version of the txt4two program into the MMH antenatal service as a component of the nutrition and dietetic service. The will focus on targeting improvements in appropriate GWG, fruit and vegetable intake and diet quality, and improving physical activity levels. We will also examine processes of implementation to inform wider dissemination of the program.    

Funding body: This research is funded by Mater Research Institute – UQ’s Outstanding Women’s Grant