Page 134 - Pro-active Management of Women’s Health after Cardiometabolic Complicated Pregnancies

132 | Part 3 Lifestyle intervention
Internet, not everyone should be able to read what’s on it.” With regard to lifestyle questionnaires, a minority preferred the use of paper and pencil to the use of a computer, or keeping a “lifestyle” diary. They thought the Internet would be too impersonal and not motivating enough. “Internet could be too undisciplined.“ Moreover, women mentioned that lack of access to the Internet and lack of skills to adequately surf on the Internet could be barriers towards computer-tailored counseling on the Internet. They also mentioned that, although the Internet is widespread, not everyone has a computer at home or a fast connection on the Internet.
Thus, although a computer was seen as an attractive medium to provide tailored lifestyle counselling, the use of a computer-tailored advice alone was considered to be too minimal, perhaps less effective and not suited for longer- term purposes, because “the computer doesn’t answer back”. Computer-tailored advice was seen as a way to support face-to-face counselling. A combination of face-to-face personal counselling supported by computer-tailored lifestyle advice offered on the Internet appealed to women. This combination was perceived as desirable, effective, and motivating.
DISCUSSION
This first study exploring the needs, ideas and opinions on postpartum lifestyle counseling of women who had experienced preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, and/or gestational diabetes shows that these women have a need for postpartum lifestyle counseling. They preferred to receive tailored lifestyle advice. According to these women, participation in postpartum lifestyle counseling should preferably be tailored to individual preferences regarding the location, onset, duration, length, and the frequency of personal guidance. A