Randomized Controlled Trial of a Mobile Health Application Based on Roy's Adaptation Model on Postpartum Adaptation

Background Mobile apps are used worldwide in nursing care, including during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a mobile health application developed for pregnant women according to the Roy adaptation model on postpartum adaptation. Methods This was a single-center, two-arm parallel-group randomized controlled trial. The study was conducted from March 2021 to August 2021. A mobile application was developed and offered to women in the experimental group from the 32nd-34th gestational weeks to the sixth week postpartum. The Postpartum Self-Evaluation Questionnaire was administered to both experimental and control groups on the 10th day postpartum and in the sixth week postpartum. The generalized linear mixed-effects model and the least significant difference test were used to analyze the data. Results The study sample consisted of 62 pregnant women. The mean scores from the total Postpartum Self-Evaluation Questionnaire and the subscales decreased statistically significantly in the 10th day postpartum and the sixth week postpartum in the experimental group compared to the control group (p <.05). The mean scores from the confidence in the ability to cope with tasks of motherhood and satisfaction with motherhood and infant care subscales indicated a statistically significant difference in group-time interaction. Discussion The results indicated that the mobile health application increased postpartum adaptation in women and effectively maintained adaptation until the sixth week postpartum. Use of mobile health applications may help provide practical, accessible, and quality prenatal and postpartum care.