None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The aim of this pilot feasibility study is to test the efficiency of the Support for New Mums smartphone application (app) on maternal self-efficacy, psychological well-being, social support and maternal satisfaction from hospital discharge to 6 months post birth. The cost-effectiveness of the intervention will also be evaluated as compared to routine postnatal care.
Interventions
A two arm, non-blinded, randomised controlled trial with qualitative focus groups has been designed. The Intervention group will have access to the support for new mum’s application for 6 weeks post birth. Intervention groups will also receive standardised institutional postnatal care services.
The ‘Support for New Mums’ app has been developed in partnership with mental health, midwifery and child and family nursing experts, and postpartum women. It is an evidence based educational program aimed
A two arm, non-blinded, randomised controlled trial with qualitative focus groups has been designed. The Intervention group will have access to the support for new mum’s application for 6 weeks post birth. Intervention groups will also receive standardised institutional postnatal care services. The ‘Support for New Mums’ app has been developed in partnership with mental health, midwifery and child and family nursing experts, and postpartum women. It is an evidence based educational program aimed at improving first time mothers’ self-efficacy in newborn care, psychological well-being, and social support. The contents include information on newborn care, maternal self-care, and psychological challenges of the postpartum period such as the baby blues, postnatal depression, and rational and irrational thoughts. The information is presented using a variety of interactive media platforms including expert advice, online information, videos, journaling and user uploaded content, as well as weekly self-assessments. The participants will be asked to access the app daily for six weeks. All the components and information in the app will be available to participants from the beginning of the study, and the participants decide which information to access based on their individual needs. Participants adherence will be examined weekly by the research team using google analytics. Participants not engaging with the app for the week will be contacted by teephone or email to discuss any issues pertaining to adherence. Phone and email support will be available as needed for the entire duration of the study.
Sponsors
Hunter Medical Research Institute
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Educational / counselling / training
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
The inclusion criteria is as follows; • Aged18 years of age or older • Ability to provide valid, informed consent • Fluent in written and oral English language • Be within the first 7 days postnatal • Have personal ownership of a smartphone or device • Have a valid email address and access to the internet • Women who do not have a pre-existing pre-pregnancy or perinatal mental health disorder, specifically women with an 'Antenatal' Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Score of greater than or equal to a score of 13 (as this indicates that women may be at risk of perinatal depression) • Any mode of birth (vaginal, instrumental or caesarean section) • Birth of a live singleton infant (no multiples).
Exclusion criteria
• Women not meeting any of the above inclusion criteria including women who have had pre-term infants (birth less than 37 weeks gestation) or gave birth to multiples (twins or triplets or more). • Women who have infants admitted to Special Care Nursery (SCN) or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in the first 7 days following birth • Infants that have congenital abnormalities or conditions
Outcome results
None listed