Dropping out of a peripartum depression mHealth study: participants’ motives and suggestions for improvement
Abstract Background Peripartum depression is a common but potentially debilitating pregnancy complication. Mobile applications can be used to collect data throughout the pregnancy and postpartum period to improve understanding of early risk indicators. Aim This study aimed to improve understanding o...
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Research Methodology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-025-02462-z |
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| author | Hanna Wierenga Konstantina V. Pagoni Alkistis Skalkidou Fotios C. Papadopoulos Femke Geusens |
| author_facet | Hanna Wierenga Konstantina V. Pagoni Alkistis Skalkidou Fotios C. Papadopoulos Femke Geusens |
| author_sort | Hanna Wierenga |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Peripartum depression is a common but potentially debilitating pregnancy complication. Mobile applications can be used to collect data throughout the pregnancy and postpartum period to improve understanding of early risk indicators. Aim This study aimed to improve understanding of why women drop out of a peripartum depression mHealth study, and how we can improve the app design. Method Participants who dropped out of the Mom2B study (n = 134) answered closed and open questions on their motives for dropping out of the study, suggestions for improvement, and preferred timeframe of the study. A mix of quantitative and qualitative strategies was used to analyze the responses. Results The most common reasons for discontinuation were lack of time, problems with or loss of the pregnancy, the use of other pregnancy applications, surveys being too lengthy, the app draining too much battery, and participants incorrectly believing that their answers were irrelevant for the study. Participants suggested fewer survey moments, more reminders, and a need for more unique content compared to commercially available apps. Conclusions Researcher who want to use mHealth designs in peripartum studies need to ensure that their study designs are as time-efficient as possible, remind participants about the study, manage expectations about the study and what is expected of participants throughout the study, design their apps to be attractive in a competitive market, and follow-up with participants who are excluded from the study due to pregnancy complications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b879de32ca6a4932b0a70a3d6591599d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2288 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Research Methodology |
| spelling | doaj-art-b879de32ca6a4932b0a70a3d6591599d2025-01-12T12:28:50ZengBMCBMC Medical Research Methodology1471-22882025-01-0125111010.1186/s12874-025-02462-zDropping out of a peripartum depression mHealth study: participants’ motives and suggestions for improvementHanna Wierenga0Konstantina V. Pagoni1Alkistis Skalkidou2Fotios C. Papadopoulos3Femke Geusens4Department of Sociology, University of TübingenDepartment of Medical Sciences – Psychiatry, Uppsala UniversityDepartment of Women’s and Children’s Health – Obstetric & Reproductive Health Research, Uppsala UniversityDepartment of Medical Sciences – Psychiatry, Uppsala UniversityDepartment of Women’s and Children’s Health – Obstetric & Reproductive Health Research, Uppsala UniversityAbstract Background Peripartum depression is a common but potentially debilitating pregnancy complication. Mobile applications can be used to collect data throughout the pregnancy and postpartum period to improve understanding of early risk indicators. Aim This study aimed to improve understanding of why women drop out of a peripartum depression mHealth study, and how we can improve the app design. Method Participants who dropped out of the Mom2B study (n = 134) answered closed and open questions on their motives for dropping out of the study, suggestions for improvement, and preferred timeframe of the study. A mix of quantitative and qualitative strategies was used to analyze the responses. Results The most common reasons for discontinuation were lack of time, problems with or loss of the pregnancy, the use of other pregnancy applications, surveys being too lengthy, the app draining too much battery, and participants incorrectly believing that their answers were irrelevant for the study. Participants suggested fewer survey moments, more reminders, and a need for more unique content compared to commercially available apps. Conclusions Researcher who want to use mHealth designs in peripartum studies need to ensure that their study designs are as time-efficient as possible, remind participants about the study, manage expectations about the study and what is expected of participants throughout the study, design their apps to be attractive in a competitive market, and follow-up with participants who are excluded from the study due to pregnancy complications.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-025-02462-zmHealthPeripartum depressionPregnancy appsResearch appsDrop out analysisUser perspectives |
| spellingShingle | Hanna Wierenga Konstantina V. Pagoni Alkistis Skalkidou Fotios C. Papadopoulos Femke Geusens Dropping out of a peripartum depression mHealth study: participants’ motives and suggestions for improvement BMC Medical Research Methodology mHealth Peripartum depression Pregnancy apps Research apps Drop out analysis User perspectives |
| title | Dropping out of a peripartum depression mHealth study: participants’ motives and suggestions for improvement |
| title_full | Dropping out of a peripartum depression mHealth study: participants’ motives and suggestions for improvement |
| title_fullStr | Dropping out of a peripartum depression mHealth study: participants’ motives and suggestions for improvement |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dropping out of a peripartum depression mHealth study: participants’ motives and suggestions for improvement |
| title_short | Dropping out of a peripartum depression mHealth study: participants’ motives and suggestions for improvement |
| title_sort | dropping out of a peripartum depression mhealth study participants motives and suggestions for improvement |
| topic | mHealth Peripartum depression Pregnancy apps Research apps Drop out analysis User perspectives |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-025-02462-z |
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