A Mindfulness-Based App Intervention for Pregnant Women: Qualitative Evaluation of a Prototype Using Multiple Case Studies
Silvia Rizzi, Maria Chiara Pavesi, Alessia Moser, Francesca Paolazzi, Michele Marchesoni, Stefania Poggianella, Erik Gadotti, Stefano Forti
JMIR Formative Research January 17, 2025 DOI: 10.2196/58265 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study with iterative design and development Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 15 |
| Population | Stakeholders including domain experts, pregnant women, mothers with young children, and midwives |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | The prototype mindfulness intervention was positively evaluated by users, though both domain experts and target users noted that listening was not fully active. |
Abstract
BackgroundPregnancy is a complex period characterized by significant transformations. How a woman adapts to these changes can affect her quality of life and psychological well-being. Recently developed digital solutions have assumed a crucial role in supporting the psychological well-being of pregnant women. However, these tools have mainly been developed for women who already present clinically relevant psychological symptoms or mental disorders. ObjectiveThis study aimed to develop a mindfulness-based well-being intervention for all pregnant women that can be delivered electronically and guided by an online assistant with wide reach and dissemination. This paper aimed to describe a prototype technology-based mindfulness intervention’s design and development process for pregnant women, including the exploration phase, intervention content development, and iterative software development (including design, development, and formative evaluation of paper and low-fidelity prototypes). MethodsDesign and development processes were iterative and performed in close collaboration with key stakeholders (N=15), domain experts including mindfulness experts (n=2), communication experts (n=2), and psychologists (n=3), and target users including pregnant women (n=2), mothers with young children (n=2), and midwives (n=4). User-centered and service design methods, such as interviews and usability testing, were included to ensure user involvement in each phase. Domain experts evaluated a paper prototype, while target users evaluated a low-fidelity prototype. Intervention content was developed by psychologists and mindfulness experts based on the Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting program and adjusted to an electronic format through multiple iterations with stakeholders. ResultsAn 8-session intervention in a prototype electronic format using text, audio, video, and images was designed. In general, the prototypes were evaluated positively by the users involved. The questionnaires showed that domain experts, for instance, positively evaluated chatbot-related aspects such as empathy and comprehensibility of the terms used and rated the mindfulness traces present as supportive and functional. The target users found the content interesting and clear. However, both parties regarded the listening as not fully active. In addition, the interviews made it possible to pick up useful suggestions in order to refine the intervention. Domain experts suggested incorporating auditory components alongside textual content or substituting text entirely with auditory or audiovisual formats. Debate surrounded the inclusion of background music in mindfulness exercises, with opinions divided on its potential to either distract or aid in engagement. The target users proposed to supplement the app with some face-to-face meetings at crucial moments of the course, such as the beginning and the end. ConclusionsThis study illustrates how user-centered and service designs can be applied to identify and incorporate essential stakeholder aspects in the design and development process. Combined with evidence-based concepts, this process facilitated the development of a mindfulness intervention designed for the end users, in this case, pregnant women.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on meditation, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cites 7
- Mindfulness Interventions Annual Review of Psychology September 30, 2016
- The effect of mindfulness‐based stress reduction on maternal anxiety and self‐efficacy: A randomized controlled trial Brain and Behavior April 23, 2020
- Effects of a mindfulness based childbirth and parenting program on pregnant women's perceived stress and risk of perinatal depression-Results from a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Affective Disorders October 30, 2019
- Web-Based Mindfulness Interventions for Mental Health Treatment: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JMIR Mental Health September 25, 2018
- Benefits of preparing for childbirth with mindfulness training: a randomized controlled trial with active comparison BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth August 14, 2018
and 2 more in the library