Preliminary assessment of the Healthy Early Life Moments (HELMS) webinars in empowering Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) concept among healthcare professionals - a pragmatic serial cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objectives: The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) concept has gained prominence in maternal and child health (MCH), emphasizing how early-life factors impact later-life non-communicable diseases. However, a knowledge–practice gap exists in applying DOHaD principles among healthcare professionals. Healthy Early Life Moments in Singapore (HELMS) introduced webinars to bridge this gap and empower healthcare professionals. We aimed to conduct a preliminary assessment to gain early insights into the outreach and effectiveness of the educational initiative offered with the HELMS webinars. Methods: We employed a pragmatic serial cross-sectional study approach and targeted healthcare professionals involved in MCH care. We also collected and analyzed data on webinar registration and attendance, participants’ profession and organizational affiliations, and post-webinar survey responses. Results: The median webinar attendance rate was 59.6 % (25th–75th percentile: 58.4–60.8 %). Nurses represented 68.6 % of attendees (n=2,589 out of 3,774). Post-webinar surveys revealed over 75 % of the participants providing positive responses to 14 out of 15 survey questions concerning content, delivery, applicability to work, and organization. Conclusions: Assessment of the HELMS webinars provided insight into the outreach and early effectiveness in enhancing healthcare professionals’ knowledge and confidence in delivering DOHaD education. Bridging the knowledge–practice gap remains a crucial goal.