Effect of Online Training on Antenatal Physical Activity Counseling.

The objective of this study was to test the effect of an online education intervention on providers' attitudes, beliefs, knowledge, and practices pertaining to antenatal physical activity. A sample of 181 providers (ie, obstetricians, family medicine physicians, and certified nurse-midwives) was directed to view an online training on antenatal physical activity guidelines, counseling methods, and resources. Providers completed surveys before and 12 weeks after viewing the educational website material. Repeated-measures analyses were conducted to examine the effects of the online education. A total of 164 providers (87.2%) completed baseline and follow-up surveys. After viewing the online training, participants more strongly agreed that it was their responsibility to encourage engagement in antenatal physical activity (P = .02) and believed that women would follow their advice about beginning antenatal physical activity (P = .01). Viewing the website material facilitated an increased confidence in ability to effectively talk with overweight and obese women about physical activity (P = .04) and more frequent advising to begin a moderate-intensity physical activity program for sedentary women (P = .02). Knowledge on antenatal physical activity guidelines also improved. Findings suggest that online educational interventions may be an effective tool in altering providers' knowledge and practices pertaining to antenatal physical activity.