We are really excited to be able to share our newly published paper, titled ‘Using Intervention Mapping to Codevelop Orchid, a Digital Tool for Reproductive Life Planning: Development and Feasibility Study’. Which brings together several years of research, collaboration, creativity, and practical implementation.

Orchid was co-developed to support people of reproductive age to understand their pregnancy preferences and create a personalised reproductive life plan (RLP). The need for this work is clear: many people do not make health or lifestyle changes before pregnancy, and almost half of pregnancies in the UK are unplanned. Digital health interventions have the potential to address this gap by providing accessible, evidence-based support at scale.

Building Orchid Together

One of the defining features of the project was our commitment to co-development. Using Intervention Mapping and behaviour change theory, we worked with a multidisciplinary team and a dedicated group of 21 public contributors to shape Orchid from the earliest stages of development. Furthermore, the need for Orchid in the first place came from an expressed preference for exploring their pregnancy preferences digitally.

One of the best parts of the project was working alongside our end-user group. They were instrumental in the development and design of Orchid, helping to shape the intervention from the ground up. Their experiences, perspectives, and feedback influenced everything from the features we included to how information was presented. It was a genuine privilege to work with such an engaged and thoughtful group of people. We learnt so much from them throughout the process, and Orchid simply would not be what it is today without their contributions.

Healthcare Pilot

Orchid was piloted across a range of healthcare settings, including a GP practice, sexual health clinic, and women’s health hub. The pilot explored whether the intervention was feasible and acceptable for both users and healthcare professionals.

Overall, healthcare professionals were positive about recommending Orchid, and users responded well to the content, design, and convenience of the digital format. Many appreciated having access to comprehensive reproductive health information that was easy to understand, alongside personalised planning tools. During the pilot, 153 people signed up to use Orchid, providing valuable insights into how the intervention was used and how it could be further improved.

The findings suggest that Orchid is a promising and scalable digital health intervention that could support reproductive health and preventative care across the NHS.

Looking Ahead

This publication represents much more than the end of a research project. It reflects years of collaboration, learning, creativity, and meaningful involvement from the people who helped make Orchid possible.

Although Orchid is not yet widely available, pending future funding and further development, we are excited about its potential and hopeful that the next stage of the journey is on the horizon.

Read the full paper here