Just Walk It! Encouraging use of the Active10 app to promote brisk walking after a hypertensive pregnancy: pilot study

Problem

Each year in England, 70,000 women have high blood pressure during pregnancy (known as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy or HDP). Women who have high blood pressure during pregnancy are at increased long-term risk of cardiovascular disease. Regular brisk walking at 3-4mph starting in the postnatal period might reduce this risk. The Free Active 10 app, developed by Public Health England, encourages at least 10 minutes brisk walking every day. It has never been evaluated in a trial.Aims:To conduct a pilot study over 3 months of giving postnatal women who had HDP a ‘Just walk it’ leaflet encouraging use of the Active 10 app.We will assess:1. How many women downloaded the Active 10 app2. How many women used it to monitor their brisk walking3. How many achieved 10 minutes brisk walking in a day as recorded on the app

Approach

We will recruit 20 women with HDP from hospital postnatal wards. Two months after delivery a researcher (MR) will visit them at home and measure BP, height, weight and waist circumference and administer a health questionnaire.A week later the women will be posted a “Just walk it” leaflet providing information on possible benefits of brisk walking after HDP and encouraging them to download and use Active 10.MR will telephone them after 2 weeks to see how they are getting on with brisk walking and Active10. If they have not downloaded or used the app he will encourage them to try it and arrange a further call after 2 weeks.Outcomes at 3 months by telephone questionnaire to patient backed by GP medical record search:1. How many women downloaded the Active10 app2. How many women used it to monitor their brisk walking3. How many achieved 10 minutes brisk walking in a day – from a screenshot of participants’ Active 10 record.4. Exploratory data on any change in BP, weight, waist circumference from patient questionnaire/GP records

Findings

The pilot study was designed with the help of 17 postnatal mothers (including four with HDP) in two general practices. All welcomed the advice and were keen to do brisk walking.Comments included:."I've downloaded the app and I am more aware of my walking briskly now. I didn't know whether my walking was good enough or not but now I look at the app and it tells me if I am walking fast.""I will continue to use the app.""I think it is good to know how fast I am walking. I try to be active but it's difficult with a baby."

Consequences

Promoting Active 10 could be a simple, cheap way of increasing long-term brisk walking after HDP. If beneficial, it could be offered routinely by GPs/health-visitors during postnatal reviews.