560 - Usage, Uptake and Satisfaction of an mHealth Intervention App to Support New Parents Mental Health of Full-Term Infants

Poster Number: 560
Publication Number: 560.2118

Background: Despite their ubiquity, minimal evidence exists regarding the effectiveness of mHealth apps designed to support first time parents. This limited data on the effectiveness of mHealth apps underscores an important gap in our understanding of how technology can help parents, especially in regards to mental health support.

Objective: To use mixed methods to examine how new parents engage with and use an mHealth app, Baby2Home (B2H), in the first 12 months postnatally.

Design/Methods: B2H is an mHealth app designed using stakeholder input to support the transition to parenthood, offering education on infant wellness, parental mental health, and healthcare utilization and includes mental health collaborative care management. In the parent RCT, we are enrolling 640 first time birthing parents, 320 to receive B2H and 320 usual care. Non-birthing parents may participate if the birthing parent enrolls. Participants are first-time English-speaking parents ≥ 18y.o. (data collection through 11/2023). Usage statistics and patterns were interpreted from the app dashboard. Qualitative interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of diverse app users.

Results: Of the 389 intervention parents enrolled thus far from 0-11 months postnatal (n=268 birthing; n=121 non-birthing), average age is 32y.o and 63% of birthing parents were White/other, 24% Hispanic, and 14% Black. Of those randomized to the B2H, 98% (n=382) have downloaded and used B2H. Users spend on average 2min 25 seconds/day (range: 1s-48min) on the app for 2.01 sessions/day. Participants send an average of 2.32 messages to their care manager (range:1-66) and open an average of 9.06 education articles (r:0-95).

In qualitative analysis, 7 interviews have been conducted (5 birthing and 2 non-birthing parents) between 2 and 11 months postpartum. Thematic analysis reveals these themes: (1) enhanced self-reflection through mental health surveys, (2) reduction in information seeking through comprehensive education, and (3) augmented support from care managers (see tables 1-3 for quotes).

Conclusion(s): First time parents in an mHealth app intervention are willing to download B2H, have excellent uptake, and satisfaction; additionally, new parents find value in this type of support. mHealth interventions may provide augmented approaches to support parents mental health and to navigate new parenthood.