von Sommoggy, Julia and Steinmann, Julia Ruth and Lander, Jonas and Bitzer, Eva Maria and Pawellek, Maja and Brandstetter, Susanne and Apfelbacher, Christian and Fillenberg, Barbara Dorothea (2025) How can midwives in Germany be supported in advising on early childhood allergy prevention in a health literacy-responsive way? Protocol for a mixed-methods study to co-design and evaluate an educational intervention following the Medical Research Council framework. BMJ OPEN, 15 (12): e098402. ISSN 2044-6055,
Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)Abstract
Introduction Health literacy (HL) is essential for making informed health-related decisions, for example enabling parents to reduce their child's allergy risk. Health literacy does not, however, rely solely on an individual's capacities, but is strongly influenced by external factors. Midwives provide important health advice to families, particularly since their relationship is close during a time of significant transition. This offers them a unique opportunity to positively influence the HL of parents, which in turn may support the health and well-being of the whole family. The aim of this study is to develop and evaluate an intervention that can support midwives in providing allergy prevention advice in a way that is in line with the concept of HL.Methods and analysis In accordance with the recommendations of the Medical Research Council framework in the first phase of this study, we will survey midwives (target sample size=379) in Germany regarding their practices, the potential barriers they face and enabling factors in providing advice on early childhood allergy prevention in an HL-responsive way. The data will be subjected to descriptive statistical analysis. Two co-design workshops will then be conducted with various stakeholders in two regions (Rhineland-Palatinate and Saxony) of Germany. Following the protocol proposed by the Stanford Design Thinking School, we will use design thinking to collect ideas for the intervention. Based on these ideas and our previous qualitative and quantitative study, we will develop an intervention in collaboration with didactic experts. The intervention will be piloted in three groups (midwives=10-15, midwives working as practice supervisors=5-10, students of midwifery=10-20). For the process evaluation, we will use observation protocols of the intervention conduct and qualitative interviews. For the outcome evaluation, we will use a questionnaire and observations in simulation laboratories with students of midwifery.Ethics and dissemination This study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Regensburg (ID 23-3441-101) and is in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Participation in the study will only be possible after informed consent has been given. Our results will be presented at national and international conferences and published in scientific journals. Additionally, once it has been finalised, we will make the intervention available to educational institutions for (future) midwives.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | FOOD ALLERGY; CARE; Health Literacy; PREVENTIVE MEDICINE; Midwifery |
| Subjects: | 600 Technology > 610 Medical sciences Medicine |
| Divisions: | Medicine > Lehrstuhl für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin |
| Depositing User: | Dr. Gernot Deinzer |
| Date Deposited: | 28 Jul 2026 11:41 |
| Last Modified: | 28 Jul 2026 11:41 |
| URI: | https://pred.uni-regensburg.de/id/eprint/67278 |
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