%0 Journal Article
%T Holistic preconception care: Providing real-time guidance via a mobile app to optimise maternal and child health.
%A Ku CW
%A Tan YB
%A Tan SI
%A Ku CO
%A Godfrey KM
%A Tan KH
%A Chan SY
%A Yang L
%A Yap F
%A Loy SL
%A Chan JKY
%J Ann Acad Med Singap
%V 53
%N 5
%D 2024 May 10
%M 38920222
%F 8.713
%R 10.47102/annals-acadmedsg.2023283
%X <B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Preconception is a critical period to optimise gamete function and early placental development, essential for successful conception and long-term maternal-child health. However, there is a lack of preconception services and consequently, global fertility rates continue to fall and mothers embark on their pregnancy journey in poor health. There is an urgent need to implement a holistic community-level preconception care programme to optimise risk factors for poor fecundability and improve long-term maternal-child health.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>We reviewed current evidence on fecundability lifestyle risk factors, the efficacy of existing preconception interventions and the use of digital platforms for health optimisation, to create a new digital-based preconception intervention model that will be implemented via an app. We present the theory, content and mode of delivery of this holistic model targeting couples planning for pregnancy.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>We propose a new model featuring a user-friendly mobile app, which enables couples to self-assess fecundability risks through a personalised risk score that drives a tailored management plan. This tiered management provides anticipatory guidance supported by evidence-based recommen-dations, and promotes ongoing engagement for behavioural optimisation and specialist referrals as required. Based on the health belief model, this new model delivered with a mobile app seeks to shift couples' perceptions about their susceptibility and severity of subfertility, benefits of making a change and barriers to change.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Our proposed digital-based intervention model via a mobile app stands to enhance preconcep-tion care by providing personalised risk assessments, real-time feedback and tiered management to optimise preconception reproductive health of couples. This model forms a reference content framework for future preconception care intervention delivery.