Bibliographic Details
| Title: |
Using Smartphone-Based Psychoeducation to Reduce Postnatal Depression Among First-Time Mothers: Randomized Controlled Trial |
| Authors: |
Chan, Ko Ling, Leung, Wing Cheong, Tiwari, Agnes, Or, Ka Lun, Ip, Patrick |
| Source: |
JMIR mHealth and uHealth, Vol 7, Iss 5, p e12794 (2019) |
| Publisher Information: |
JMIR Publications, 2019. |
| Publication Year: |
2019 |
| Collection: |
LCC:Information technology
LCC:Public aspects of medicine |
| Subject Terms: |
Information technology, T58.5-58.64, Public aspects of medicine, RA1-1270 |
| More Details: |
BackgroundSmartphone-based psychoeducation interventions may be a low-cost, user-friendly alternative to resource-consuming, face-to-face antenatal classes to educate expectant mothers. ObjectiveThis study aimed to empirically examine whether such an intervention would lead to reduced postnatal depression, anxiety, or stress and result in a better health-related quality of life. MethodsA single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted in Hong Kong. All first-time expectant mothers with less than 24 weeks of gestation remaining and attending the antenatal clinic at a public hospital were included. Participants were assigned to the intervention group or the control group by drawing lots. The lots, presented in sealed opaque envelopes, were randomly designated as “intervention” or “control” by stratified randomization. The intervention, a psychoeducational mobile app, was provided in addition to the treatment as usual (TAU) services from the hospital. Follow up with participants took place at 4 weeks postpartum. The primary outcome was the difference in the levels of antenatal and postnatal depression, assessed by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The intention-to-treat approach was employed in the analyses. ResultsThe final sample was 660 expectant mothers (nintervention=330 and ncontrol=330). The mean difference in EPDS scores between the two groups was −0.65 (95% CI −1.29 to 0.00; P=.049) after adjusting for confounding factors. Associations were found between participation in the intervention and reduced depression, and attendance in TAU classes and increased stress levels. ConclusionsThe smartphone-based intervention plus TAU services was effective in reducing postnatal depression at 4 weeks postpartum compared with a control condition of TAU only, making this a cost-effective alternative to TAU education for expectant mothers. Limitations of the study included the short postpartum period after which the follow-up assessment was conducted and the inclusion of first-time mothers rather than all mothers. Trial RegistrationHKU Clinical Trials Registry HKUCTR-2024; http://www.hkuctr.com/Study/Show/ 34f62a2f6d594273a290491827206384 |
| Document Type: |
article |
| File Description: |
electronic resource |
| Language: |
English |
| ISSN: |
2291-5222 |
| Relation: |
http://mhealth.jmir.org/2019/5/e12794/; https://doaj.org/toc/2291-5222 |
| DOI: |
10.2196/12794 |
| Access URL: |
https://doaj.org/article/e7a48b1549014bec90ba7a3d6988a329 |
| Accession Number: |
edsdoj.7a48b1549014bec90ba7a3d6988a329 |
| Database: |
Directory of Open Access Journals |
