The mental health of new parents around the time of the birth of their baby has been identified as a key priority in the NHS (National Health Service) Long Term plan. At present, there is no nationally implemented method for monitoring parents' mental health, although the use of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) has been recommended. This is a paper based questionnaire administered by health visitors in the postnatal period. For the purposes of this project, the investigators contacted health visitors in Manchester to find out how they use EPDS in practice. Currently, health visitors only use the questionnaire if they feel there is a need during visits, and the questionnaire is not kept (only the overall score). Since almost 20% of mums develop postnatal depression, more systematic and thorough screening is needed. The investigators developed an app version of the EPDS which takes less than 2 minutes to complete on a smartphone. It is anticpated that this will be a more accessible and practical method of conducting this important assessment. This project is a feasibility study to find out whether an app would be a feasible, acceptable, valid and safe way to monitor perinatal mental health in women and their partners. The investigators aim to recruit 20 women and their partners in late pregnancy (after 36 weeks gestation) and ask them to use the app. The app will prompt completion of the EPDS once per day until 6 weeks postnatally. Participants' responses on the app will be transferred to a secure server at the University of Manchester. Participants will be invited to complete a paper version of the EPDS at the beginning and end of the study to check validity. They will also be asked to complete a questionnaire measuring the acceptability of the app and to take part in a brief qualitative interview at the end of the study.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
23
No intervention, but participants will use a smartphone app daily (ClinTouch DAWN-P) to complete the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale
University of Manchester
Manchester, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom
Percentage of app based EPDS (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) assessments completed during the app-use phase
Percentage of app based EPDS (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) assessments completed during the app-use phase
Time frame: 36 weeks gestation until 6 weeks postpartum
Percentage of eligible individuals recruited to the study
Percentage of eligible individuals recruited to the study
Time frame: Baseline
Dropout rate - percentage of participants who consent to take part in the study dropping out during the app use phase
Percentage of participants who consent to take part in the study dropping out during the app use phase
Time frame: 36 weeks gestation until 6 weeks postpartum
Percentage of participants completing at least a third of app-based assessments
Percentage of participants completing at least a third of app-based assessments. The a priori "accept" criterion will be \>33% data points completed
Time frame: 36 weeks gestation until 6 weeks postpartum
Percentage of participants completing at least half of app-based assessments
Percentage of participants completing at least half of app-based assessments. The a priori target criterion will be 50% of participants submitting at least 50% of app-based assessments.
Time frame: 36 weeks gestation until 6 weeks postpartum
Transcripts from qualitative interviews with parents who have used the screening app regarding acceptability of the app
Transcripts from qualitative interviews with parents who have used the screening app regarding acceptability of the app
Time frame: 6 weeks postpartum
abridged Mobile App Rating Scale
abridged Mobile App Rating Scale score
Time frame: 6 weeks postpartum
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale - app-based version
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale - app-based version
Time frame: 36 weeks gestation until 6 weeks postpartum
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale - paper version
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale - paper version
Time frame: 36-37 weeks gestation; 5-6 weeks postpartum
Number of adverse events occurring during the app-use phase of the study
Number of adverse events occurring during the app-use phase of the study
Time frame: 36 weeks gestation until 6 weeks postpartum
Qualitative interview data on participants' experience of using the app.
Qualitative interview data on participants' experience of using the app.
Time frame: 6 weeks postpartum
Demographic questionnaire
Demographic questionnaire asking standard questions about participants' demographic characteristics - e.g. age, gender, employment status.
Time frame: Baseline (36 weeks pregnant)
BMI (from casenotes)
BMI (from casenotes)
Time frame: Baseline (36 weeks pregnant)
past psychiatric history as reported in casenotes (any history of major depression, previously prescribed psychiatric medication, previously referred for talking therapy)
past psychiatric history as reported in casenotes (any history of major depression, previously prescribed psychiatric medication, previously referred for talking therapy)
Time frame: Baseline (36 weeks pregnant)
Answers to mental health screening questions at booking appointment (NICE, 2014: section 1.5.4)
Answers to mental health screening questions at booking appointment (NICE, 2014: section 1.5.4)
Time frame: Baseline (36 weeks pregnant)
Details of current childbirth (mode of delivery, live/still birth, any major obstetric complications)
Details of current childbirth (mode of delivery, live/still birth, any major obstetric complications)
Time frame: Baseline (36 weeks pregnant)
parity (total number of pregnancies reaching viable gestational age)
parity (total number of pregnancies reaching viable gestational age)
Time frame: Baseline (36 weeks pregnant)
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