Using qualitative research and the person-based approach to coproduce an inclusive intervention for postpartum blood pressure self-management

TL;DR

Researchers created an inclusive app and tools to help new mothers manage blood pressure at home, using feedback from patients and healthcare providers.

Contribution

A multicomponent, inclusive postpartum blood pressure self-management intervention was coproduced using diverse stakeholder input and iterative testing.

Findings

The intervention increased patient adherence through training, reminders, and reassurance about medication safety.

Patients and clinicians found the intervention simple, motivating, and compatible with clinical practice.

The coproduction process ensured accessibility and adaptability across diverse clinical contexts.

Abstract

To coproduce an inclusive intervention for blood pressure (BP) self-management post partum.

Using the person-based approach, an intervention was coproduced in three phases. Phase 1 entailed intervention coproduction with a diverse patient and public involvement panel and stakeholders (clinical, academic, government and third sector-based). Phase 2 involved intervention optimisation through think-aloud interviews with former patients and clinicians. Phase 3 was user-testing followed by semistructured interviews with current patients and their clinicians.

Patients and clinicians from primary and secondary care drawn from Southern and Northern England.

Seven former patients and 11 clinicians participated in think-aloud interviews to provide their views of intervention prototypes (phase 2). Additionally, 23 patients and 9 of their clinicians participated in semistructured interviews after using the intervention for 2 weeks (phase 3).

An interactive patient app—My BP Care—and accompanying leaflet to support BP self-monitoring. These were linked to a clinician dashboard with alerts and an emailing system to facilitate appropriate titration of patient medication.

The intervention was codeveloped following these guiding principles to ensure it was accessible and inclusive: easily comprehensible, motivating, simple and quick to use. Interview findings indicated that patient adherence to the intervention was promoted by the initial patient training conducted by the midwives, the enhanced clinical oversight they felt they received as a result of the intervention, the free BP monitor they received, reassurance they received of the medication safety for them and their baby, the intervention’s simplicity and the motivating reminders they received.

Through coproduction with a diverse group of patients and stakeholders, and optimisation through testing among further diverse patients and clinicians, we developed a multicomponent intervention that is accessible and engaging for diverse patients, compatible with prevailing clinical practice and adaptable to different clinical contexts.