Using smart devices for prenatal care: Assessing the willingness among women with pregnancy-related anxiety

Altmannshofer S, Weidenthaler F, Titzmann A, Pontones C, Danzberger N, Jäger K, Nissen M, Leutheuser H, Eskofier B, Fasching P, Beckmann M, Hübner H (2026)

Publication Status: Published

Publication Type: Journal article, Original article

Publication year: 2026

Journal

Digital Health Sage Publications

Publisher: SAGE Publications Inc.

Book Volume: 12

DOI: 10.1177/20552076251406652

Abstract

Background

Wearables and smart devices could complement face-to-face prenatal care appointments by monitoring pregnant women's health, especially since pregnancy may be a vulnerable time when mental health issues and pregnancy-related anxiety may arise.

Aim

The aim of this study was to analyze the extent whether the willingness of women to use smart devices for pregnancy care monitoring differs between those with pregnancy-related anxiety and those without.

Methods

A survey was conducted to ascertain participant's general characteristics, attitudes toward smart devices, the willingness to use them, and the level of pregnancy-related anxiety (PRAQ-R2). Associations between the willingness and pregnancy-related anxiety parameters were analyzed.

Results

Completed questionnaires from 210 women were included in the analysis. A significant difference between women showing high and low levels of pregnancy-related anxiety was observed in terms of their willingness to use a smartwatch (median score 4.00; interquartile range (IQR) 4.00–5.00 vs. 4.00; IQR 3.00–4.00; P = .02), smart contraction counter (median score 4.00; IQR 3.00–5.00 vs. 3.00; IQR 3.00–4.00; P = .02), smart blood pressure monitor (median score 5.00; IQR 3.00–5.00 vs. 4.00; IQR 3.00–4.00; P = .003) or sleep tracker (median score 4.00; IQR 3.00–5.00 vs. 3.00; IQR 2.00–4.00; P = .007). Overall, anxious women showed significantly higher willingness to use smart devices in the context of prenatal care.

Conclusions

The data suggest that pregnant women are receptive to using smart devices to enhance their prenatal care, particularly those experiencing higher levels of anxiety. This study serves as an initial step in evaluating attitudes toward these devices. As a follow-up, it is recommended that acceptance and feasibility studies are conducted alongside the further development of existing and new pregnancy-specific wearables.


Authors with CRIS profile

Stefanie Altmannshofer Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Filip Weidenthaler Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Adriana Titzmann Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Constanza Pontones Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Katharina Jäger Machine Learning and Data Analytics Lab Michael Nissen Machine Learning and Data Analytics Lab Björn Eskofier Machine Learning and Data Analytics Lab Peter Fasching Professur für Translationale Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe Matthias Beckmann Lehrstuhl für Geburtshilfe und Frauenheilkunde Hanna Hübner Medizinische Fakultät

Involved external institutions

Universität Bayreuth DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Altmannshofer, S., Weidenthaler, F., Titzmann, A., Pontones, C., Danzberger, N., Jäger, K.,... Hübner, H. (2026). Using smart devices for prenatal care: Assessing the willingness among women with pregnancy-related anxiety. Digital Health, 12. https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251406652

MLA:

Altmannshofer, Stefanie, et al. "Using smart devices for prenatal care: Assessing the willingness among women with pregnancy-related anxiety." Digital Health 12 (2026).

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