Empowering Women's Heart Health: Innovative App-Based Strategies to Boost Physical Activity After Hypertensive Pregnancy Disorders, suggests study

Recently conducted randomized clinical trial aimed to assess the effectiveness of app-based moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) interventions for women with a history of hypertensive pregnancy disorder (HPD). The study was conducted over an 8-week period and relied on the Integrated Behavior Change (IBC) model and behavior change techniques. Participants were divided into three groups: control, motivation, and action. The primary outcome measured was MVPA using a wearable fitness tracker, and secondary outcomes included variables like resting heart rate and self-reported measures. The interventions incorporated techniques targeting motivational, volitional, and automatic processes.

Intervention Results

The study found that while the action intervention positively impacted motivational and volitional processes, it did not lead to a significant increase in MVPA compared to the control group. Results showed a decline in MVPA over the study period across all groups, with no significant differences between the action and motivation groups. Attrition rates were observed at 27% by week 9, 41% by week 21, and 71% by week 61, diminishing the final sample size.

Subgroup Analyses

Subgroup analyses indicated that the action intervention was more effective for participants with low baseline MVPA levels. However, no differences were found in treatment effects based on educational level subgroups. The study highlighted the challenges of bridging the intention-behavior gap and emphasized the importance of targeting both automatic and deliberative processes for behavior change.

Engagement and Process Limitations

Although engagement rates were relatively high, with positive evaluations from participants, the study suggested that the interventions may have faced challenges due to participants reaching a high baseline level of MVPA. The interventions did not directly encourage increasing MVPA minutes, and the lack of impact on automatic processes raised questions about their role in driving MVPA behavior.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the study underscored the complexity of behavior change interventions, especially in the context of increasing MVPA among women with HPD. While the interventions positively influenced motivational and volitional processes, translating these effects into significant changes in MVPA proved challenging. The study identified areas for improvement in future interventions, emphasizing the need for a tighter link between intervention activities and the desired outcomes.

Key Points

- The study focused on evaluating the effectiveness of app-based interventions for promoting moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in women with a history of hypertensive pregnancy disorder (HPD) using the Integrated Behavior Change (IBC) model and behavior change techniques over an 8-week period.

- Participants were divided into control, motivation, and action groups, with the primary outcome being MVPA measured using a fitness tracker, and secondary outcomes included variables like resting heart rate and self-reported measures, targeting motivational, volitional, and automatic processes.

- Findings revealed that while the action intervention positively impacted motivational and volitional processes, there was no significant increase in MVPA compared to the control group, with all groups showing a decline in MVPA over the study period and attrition rates increasing over time.

- Subgroup analyses indicated that the action intervention was more effective for participants with low baseline MVPA levels, emphasizing the challenge of bridging the intention-behavior gap and the importance of targeting automatic and deliberative processes for behavior change.

- Despite relatively high engagement rates and positive participant evaluations, challenges were faced due to participants starting at a high baseline level of MVPA, interventions not directly promoting increased MVPA minutes, and lack of impact on automatic processes potentially hindering the desired behavior change outcomes.

- In conclusion, the study highlighted the complexity of behavior change interventions for increasing MVPA in women with HPD, noting the influence on motivational and volitional processes but the difficulty in translating these effects into substantial changes in MVPA, suggesting areas for improvement in future interventions for a closer link between activities and desired outcomes.

Reference –

Lili L KóKai et al. (2025). App-Based Physical Activity Intervention Among Women With Prior Hypertensive Pregnancy Disorder. *JAMA Network Open*, 8. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.2656.