Effectiveness of a Web-based Nursing Intervention in the Reduction of Postpartum Depression and Parenting Stress.

Saint Anselm College

Status: Completed

Conditions: Depression, Postpartum

Treatments: Behavioral: standardized electronic messages; Behavioral: Staff nurse phone follow-up; Behavioral: nurse phone call if requested

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02843022

NURS2015-3

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of the study is to determine whether a web-based nursing intervention delivered during the postpartum period will decrease symptoms of postpartum depression and parenting stress.

Full description

The purpose of this randomized, controlled trial is to determine whether receiving standardized messages (text or email) from a postpartum nurse four times/week for 6 months after delivery will decrease symptoms of postpartum depression and parenting stress. Enrolled women will be randomized to one of three groups. The first group will receive the usual care, which is a phone call from a nurse within the first few weeks postpartum. The second group will receive four standardized messages each week, the content of which will include infant care, maternal self-care and inspirational material. The third group will receive the same four standardized messages each week, and in addition, two of these weekly messages will offer the option to respond with a request for a nurse to call them. Baseline data will be collected during the postpartum hospitalization, and follow-up will occur by email at 3 weeks, 3 months and 6 months postpartum.

Enrollment: 683 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Able to speak and read English
2. Access to a device which can receive text or email messages

Exclusion criteria

1. Non-English speaking,
2. No access to a device which can receive text or email messages
3. Age younger than 18 -

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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683 participants in 3 patient groups

Usual care

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participant will receive the usual care provided by the nursing staff at Catholic Medical Center. A lactation consultant or childbirth educator attempts to call each patient within 2-3 weeks prior to discharge. Only one call is made, and a message left if the patient would like to call back.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Staff nurse phone follow-up

Message Only

Experimental group

Description:

Participant will receive the usual care, and in addition, will receive four standardized electronic messages weekly for six months postpartum. These will be one-way messages without the option to respond.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Staff nurse phone follow-up

Behavioral: standardized electronic messages

Message and Nurse

Experimental group

Description:

Participant will receive the usual care as well as the four standardized electronic messages/week for 6 months. Two of these weekly messages will be two-way, providing the option for the participant to respond "yes" to an offer to have a nurse call them. A nurse phone call if requested will be provided with a week.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Staff nurse phone follow-up

Behavioral: nurse phone call if requested

Behavioral: standardized electronic messages