Optimizing Antenatal Care: The Effects of a Holistic Nursing Android Application for Pregnant Women

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, face-to-face Ante Natal Care (ANC) services were limited. To address this, we developed the Android digital application “Guide Me” based on a holistic care concept to optimize ANC.Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the Android digital application “Guide Me” on optimizing ANC.Methods: This study used an experimental research design. The participants included 302 pregnant women selected through block randomization, with 160 in the intervention group and 142 in the control group. The intervention involved providing ANC services using a digital Android application at home, with health services visited only when treatment was necessary. The intervention group received usual care along with the Android application, “Guide Me”, which included a holistic nursing concept program, while the control group received only the usual care. Data were collected three times, and the ANC scale was used to measure ANC optimization. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze the data.Results: Significant differences were found in ANC optimization between the intervention and control groups ([F= 96.887, df (1, 300), p <0.001]). The intervention group showed significant improvements over three time points [F= 118.35, df (1, 308), p <0.001], with ANC optimization increasing from 45.79 to 59.16 in the intervention group compared to 44.09 to 45.77 in the control group.Conclusions: The “Guide Me” program effectively increased ANC optimization. Pregnant women reported feeling more at ease with home-based care and showed a preference for online apps and telemonitoring as alternatives to hospital visits. Healthcare providers may consider implementing this program in all antenatal clinics across Indonesia