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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #349837
Title: Postpartum womens perspectives of engaging with a dietitian and exercise physiologist via video consultations for weight management: A qualitative evaluation

Author
item VINCZE, LISA - University Of Newcastle
item ROLLO, MEGAN - University Of Newcastle
item HUTCHESSON, MELINDA - University Of Newcastle
item CALLISTER, ROBIN - University Of Newcastle
item Thompson, Deborah - Debbe
item COLLINS, CLARE - University Of Newcastle

Submitted to: Healthcare
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/17/2018
Publication Date: 1/19/2018
Citation: Vincze, L., Rollo, M.E., Hutchesson, M.J., Callister, R., Thompson, D.J., Collins, C.E. 2018. Postpartum womens perspectives of engaging with a dietitian and exercise physiologist via video consultations for weight management: A qualitative evaluation. Healthcare. 6:8. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/healthcare6010008.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare6010008

Interpretive Summary: Helping postpartum women achieve a healthy weight in the year following childbirth is important for both mother and infant. This research demonstrated that video consultations with health professionals was an acceptable method of delivering tailored nutrition and exercise care to postpartum women. Video consultation offers an alternative approach for reaching postpartum women with an intervention to help them achieve a healthy body weight.

Technical Abstract: Optimising weight status after childbirth is important. Video consultations are an unexplored opportunity to deliver real-time support to postpartum women to improve lifestyle behaviours. This study aims to provide insight into postpartum women's perspectives of engaging with a dietitian and exercise physiologist through video consultations for tailored nutrition and exercise care. A qualitative study using individual telephone interviews (13–36 min) was undertaken. 21 women (body mass index (BMI): 28.1 +/- 3.8 kg/m2; age: 32.3 +/- 3.0 years; parity: 1.6 +/- 0.9 children) who had completed the 8 week "Video-coaching to assist lifestyle (VITAL) change for mums" intervention participation included up to five video consultations with a dietitian and exercise physiologist. The interviews were audio recorded and transcribed. Thematic data analysis was conducted by an independent researcher using NVIVO11. Themes relating to the video consultation experience included feeling that they did not differ from other consultations, they were convenient, and the length of time and flexible options were appropriate; however there was a desire for increased contact frequency. The dietitian and exercise physiologist were perceived to increase the participants' knowledge and confidence to improve health behaviours. The approach to setting realistic and tailored goals was well received. Tailored advice from a dietitian and exercise physiologist received via video consultations is acceptable for postpartum women and offers a viable alternative to in-person care.