Qualitative studies of health promotion strategies – Insights into the development and process evaluation of 'Face-it' a health promotion intervention targeting women with newly diagnosed gestational diabetes and their families
What did you investigate and how?
In my PhD project, together with my supervisors, I explored the development, implementation, and experiences of the Face-it intervention. We conducted four studies in total: 1) a systematic review identifying health promotion strategies for parents of young children, 2) a qualitative study of the co-creation process involved in developing the intervention, 3) an analysis of health professionals’, particularly health visitors’, experiences and challenges in implementing the intervention, and 4) a study exploring participating families’ experiences and motivation as a mechanism for health behavior change.
What did you find?
The research showed that involving the whole family and offering flexible delivery methods were essential for promoting physical activity and healthy eating among parents with young children. The co-creation process during the development of the intervention fostered a sense of ownership among the health visitors delivering it. The health visitors found the intervention acceptable, particularly because it included home visits and facilitated trusting relationships through the use of dialogue tools. Participating families felt that the intervention acknowledged both their individual and shared needs, especially through digital guidance. Key mechanisms for behavior change included perceived competence, risk perception, and mutual motivation. The simplicity of the intervention’s technology and the training provided to health visitors positively influenced its implementation. Overall, the findings suggest that a combination of home visits and digital support can effectively facilitate behavior change in women with previous GDM and their partners, with important implications for future health interventions targeting this group.
Relevant links
Research profile
Publications
PhD Supervisors
Helle Terkildsen Maindal, MPH, PhD, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University; Department of Prevention, Health Promotion & Society, Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen
E-mail: htm@ph.au.dk
Karoline Kragelund Nielsen, MSc in Public Health, PhD, Department of Prevention, Health Promotion & Society, Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen
E-mail: karoline.kragelund.nielsen@regionh.dk
Dorte Møller Jensen, MD, PhD, Steno Diabetes Center Odense and Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark
E-mail: dorte.moeller.jensen@rsyd.dk
University affiliation
Aarhus University
Funding
The PhD project was funded by:
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The Steno Research Fund: A fund at Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, financed by the Novo Nordisk Foundation
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Aarhus University