The challenge of designing and integrating three motivating, sequential apps for optimising birth after C Section

Pregnant women use mobile applications; however these resources often do not meet users´ needs. As part of a FP7-funded project (“OptiBIRTH”), three motivationally-designed and clinically integrated, mobile applications were created to enable women to choose a vaginal birth after caesarean section or a repeat C Section. Method: Motivational theory, systematic literature review data and women´s voices from European focus groups directed the design process. The resulting apps enabled women to reflect on their previous caesarean birth, consider, plan and communicate their optimal birth. App outputs shared with women´s obstetricians and midwives would increase clinical decision-making communication. A pre-pilot evaluation with health care professionals in Ireland, Italy and Germany was conducted prior to the multi-centred trial pilot. Results: Two significant challenges emerged that had motivational implications for the overall apps usefulness. Discussion: Boundary-spanning strategies should be routinely be introduced from the study outset so that effective clinical, technological and motivational integration can be achieved.