None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This study is testing the effectiveness of a 4-month nurse-moderated, group-based internet intervention for mothers experiencing mild to moderate levels of depression. The intervention was delivered to mothers when their infants were aged 2-6 months and outcomes are being evaluated when infants are aged 8 months and 12 months. There were 133 mothers and infants recruited to the trial, 72 of whom received the internet based program, whilst the remaining families received standard care. The outcomes for the project include maternal depressive symptoms, maternal caregiving, parenting competence, service utilisation, and intervention quality.
Interventions
Participants will receive a single clinic-based appointment with a nurse during the weeks following the birth of their child. During this appointment all mothers will complete a questionnaire comprised of a 4-item parenting problems scale and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Mothers who score greater than or equal to 7 on the EPDS and report at least one problem on the 4-item parenting problems questionnaire will be recruited to the study. Mothers in the intervention arm will be
Participants will receive a single clinic-based appointment with a nurse during the weeks following the birth of their child. During this appointment all mothers will complete a questionnaire comprised of a 4-item parenting problems scale and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Mothers who score greater than or equal to 7 on the EPDS and report at least one problem on the 4-item parenting problems questionnaire will be recruited to the study. Mothers in the intervention arm will be assigned to an online group comprised of 20 mothers of similar-aged infants. They will be provided with access to an internet based program for a four month period (when their child is aged 2-6 months). The app is an extension of that used in the New Technology for New Mums trial (ACTRN12613000204741) and encourages mothers to exchange information and mutual support and to seek help from their nurse moderator when necessary. Mothers will be able to access the app at any time. Sections of the app, such as the 'Resources' component, have been enriched and content includes both Parenting resources and self-guided modules to help reduce depressive symptoms. Resources will be posted for discussion twice per week, and mothers can post their messages in "Chat', and complete related 'Activities'. Nurses will also direct mothers to the 'Resources' during group discussions. Mothers will have the option of privately messaging their Nurse, although they are made aware that the Nurse in only online every few days. Intervention adherence and fidelity will be assessed using system measures such as number of logins, posts to 'Chat', and number and type of resources accessed. Mothers will also complete a questionnaire about their experience with the app. Strategies to improve adherence and fidelity include Nurses contacting mothers directly by phone when, in their clinical judgement, they consider it necessary, and also, methods of reporting problems within the app itself. Mothers in the intervention will also have access to standard care services.
Sponsors
University of Adelaide
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
16 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
New mothers who are eligible for a Universal Contact Visit from the State-funded Child and Family Health Sevice (CaFHS), who score 7 or more on the EPDS and who report at least one parenting problem.
Exclusion criteria
i) EPDS scores less than 7. ii) Clinician exclusion. iii) Experiencing domestic violence, illicit drug use or other major distress. iv) insufficient English language skills. v) No internet access on a mobile phone or tablet.
Outcome results
None listed