Digital health in perinatal care: Exploring usage, attitudes, and needs among Swiss women in urban and rural settings

Oelhafen, Stephan (2024). Digital health in perinatal care: Exploring usage, attitudes, and needs among Swiss women in urban and rural settings DIGITAL HEALTH, 10 Sage 10.1177/20552076241277671

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Background: Switzerland’s healthcare system is known for its quality but faces challenges such as slow digitalization and fragmentation, especially in perinatal care. This study investigates Swiss women’s use, needs, and attitudes in respect of digital health tools during pregnancy and postpartum, focusing on any differences between rural and urban populations. Methods: A web-based cross-sectional survey targeted pregnant women and those who had given birth in the last 12 months. Participants were recruited through social media, and the data were analyzed using principal component analysis and multivariable regressions to explore factors affecting the use of digital tools and attitudes toward eHealth. Results: A total of 1160 participants completed the survey. Healthcare professionals (92%) and private networks (77%) were the primary sources of information. Women expressed a strong preference for app features such as data access (73%), prescription management (73%), and scheduling appointments with healthcare professionals (71%). However, they also raised concerns about the impersonal nature of digital healthcare interactions (71%). Overall, rural women had more negative attitudes toward online health information seeking, which can be attributed to differences in education levels. Conclusion: The findings indicate that while Swiss women in the perinatal period do utilize digital tools, they focus more on nonmedical topics such as tracking physiological development. The study underscores the importance of adapting digital health solutions to the specific needs of women in the perinatal period. Emphasis should be placed on developing applications that are not only informative but also empower women on their healthcare journey while ensuring data privacy and supporting personal interactions with healthcare providers.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	School of Health Professions School of Health Professions > Midwifery
Name:	Oelhafen, Stephan0000-0002-4238-6728
Subjects:	R Medicine > RG Gynecology and obstetrics
ISSN:	2055-2076
Publisher:	Sage
Language:	English
Submitter:	Jean Anthony Grand-Guillaume-Perrenoud
Date Deposited:	11 Sep 2024 13:13
Last Modified:	11 Sep 2024 13:13
Publisher DOI:	10.1177/20552076241277671
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Digital health, eHealth, Switzerland, attitudes, perinatal care, pregnancy, postpartum, rurality
ARBOR DOI:	10.24451/arbor.22488
URI:	https://arbor.bfh.ch/id/eprint/22488