Evaluating Knowledge, Confidence, and Stress Levels After a Four-Week Educational Intervention for Expectant Mothers
Faculty Advisor Name
Elizabeth Richardson
Department
Department of Health Professions
Description
Background: The literature regarding expectant mothers’ needs and specific ways to address these needs is abundant. However, there is minimal research on holistic group interventions that address a variety of the needs of expectant mothers and on how occupational therapy interventions can be beneficial to expectant mothers during the prenatal period. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a holistic group intervention program designed to address expectant mothers’ unique needs, through education, skills training, and support based on the core principles of occupational therapy.
Methods: Three first-time, expectant mothers participated in the program which met for four weeks, two times per week for an hour. Each of the 8 sessions focused on different topics related to pregnancy and caring for an infant through the first year. To evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention, participants completed pre- and post- surveys designed to assess their knowledge, stress levels, and confidence as it related to caring for themselves and their child. Additional information about the participants’ primary concerns, related to pregnancy and caring for a child, and topics they identified as being most beneficial was gathered.
Results: “Mental health management” and “difficulty breastfeeding” were the most common concerns identified by participants. Prior to the start of the program, child development, nutrition, and mother-infant bonding were ranked highest as topics that participants thought would be most helpful. At the conclusion of the program, participants identified child development, financial management, and nutrition as being the most beneficial topics covered.
When comparing pre- and post-surveys, there was an increase in scores for both the objective (fact quiz) and subjective (self-rating) measures of the knowledge section for care of themselves and their child. There was also an increase in scores for confidence in caring for themselves after pregnancy, but a decrease in scores related to caring for their child. Finally, there was an increase in scores for stress level indicating higher stress.
Conclusion: Holistic group programs based on OT principles may be effective in increasing knowledge and confidence in expectant mothers. In some situations, increased knowledge may contribute to increased stress and decreased confidence. Future programming and research should be designed to address this possibility as well as other limitations of the study.
Evaluating Knowledge, Confidence, and Stress Levels After a Four-Week Educational Intervention for Expectant Mothers
Background: The literature regarding expectant mothers’ needs and specific ways to address these needs is abundant. However, there is minimal research on holistic group interventions that address a variety of the needs of expectant mothers and on how occupational therapy interventions can be beneficial to expectant mothers during the prenatal period. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a holistic group intervention program designed to address expectant mothers’ unique needs, through education, skills training, and support based on the core principles of occupational therapy.
Methods: Three first-time, expectant mothers participated in the program which met for four weeks, two times per week for an hour. Each of the 8 sessions focused on different topics related to pregnancy and caring for an infant through the first year. To evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention, participants completed pre- and post- surveys designed to assess their knowledge, stress levels, and confidence as it related to caring for themselves and their child. Additional information about the participants’ primary concerns, related to pregnancy and caring for a child, and topics they identified as being most beneficial was gathered.
Results: “Mental health management” and “difficulty breastfeeding” were the most common concerns identified by participants. Prior to the start of the program, child development, nutrition, and mother-infant bonding were ranked highest as topics that participants thought would be most helpful. At the conclusion of the program, participants identified child development, financial management, and nutrition as being the most beneficial topics covered.
When comparing pre- and post-surveys, there was an increase in scores for both the objective (fact quiz) and subjective (self-rating) measures of the knowledge section for care of themselves and their child. There was also an increase in scores for confidence in caring for themselves after pregnancy, but a decrease in scores related to caring for their child. Finally, there was an increase in scores for stress level indicating higher stress.
Conclusion: Holistic group programs based on OT principles may be effective in increasing knowledge and confidence in expectant mothers. In some situations, increased knowledge may contribute to increased stress and decreased confidence. Future programming and research should be designed to address this possibility as well as other limitations of the study.
