Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Project

College/School

College of Nursing

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Project Mentor

Amy Walker

Readers

Kyla Helgeland

Abstract

Despite the well-established benefits of physical activity during pregnancy, most pregnant individuals in the United States fail to meet recommended guidelines. The aim of this quality improvement project, conducted through Seattle University College of Nursing, was to explore prenatal care providers’ perceptions of barriers to physical activity counseling during pregnancy. Using the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment (EPIS) framework, a mixed-methods survey was distributed to midwives and obstetric nurses at Neighborcare Health clinics. The survey assessed providers' beliefs, perceived barriers, and current practices related to physical activity counseling. Results showed that while most providers acknowledged the importance of physical activity, they reported limited time and complex medical conditions as major barriers to counseling. Additionally, providers expressed a desire for patient education materials and organizational support to better integrate physical activity discussions into routine prenatal visits. Based on these findings, recommendations were developed to improve the consistency and quality of physical activity counseling in prenatal care, including use of brief counseling tools and integration of educational handouts. Results were disseminated through a poster and presentation to clinic staff. This project highlights the need for targeted strategies to empower prenatal care providers in promoting physical activity among pregnant individuals.

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