Addressing First Trimester Information Needs with mHealth Solutions
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the Anxieties and Health Information Needs of Women in the First Trimester to inform mHealth Solutions for Antenatal care
IRAS ID
350193
Contact name
Stefania Gorgievska
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Bournemouth University
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Bournemouth University Ethics ID , 61452; ClinicalTrials.gov ID, NCT07114471
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
This research aims to understand what information and support women need during the first trimester (the first 12 weeks) of pregnancy, and how digital tools can help meet these needs. The first trimester is a critical stage of pregnancy, but many women do not see a healthcare professional until their first booking appointment around 10 weeks and this can leave women feeling anxious and uncertain.
The study will explore women’s experiences, concerns and information needs during early pregnancy, how they use mobile phone apps and the internet to find information, and whether they feel their information needs are being met. The views of healthcare professionals and digital health experts will also be collected. The ultimate aim is to develop a mobile phone application that provides safe, accurate, and personalised information in early pregnancy. This app will use artificial intelligence (AI) to adapt the information it provides to each woman’s individual needs (personalisation) and level of health understanding (make information easier to understand if needed).Participants will include women who are currently pregnant or have had a child in the past two years, healthcare professionals involved in maternity care, and experts in digital health from across the UK. Women will be recruited via social media, and also via one NHS hospital (where we will place advertisements only) and one private hospital in london (both of these are organisations with which the research team is affiliated with). Healthcare professionals and digital health experts will be recruited via professional organisations email lists. The study will be carried out mostly online, using questionnaires and interviews. The research is expected to last three years.
The study is being led by a PhD student at Bournemouth University and is funded by the Open Bright Foundation, Belmont Biomedical Management Ltd, and Professor Meen-Yau Thum.REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/NW/0351
Date of REC Opinion
12 Dec 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion